Upset Sunday at French Open
PARIS — On a Sunday of upsets among the women at the French Open, revenge was a dish served up in an autumnal chill by a Polish teenager.
Against the player who humbled her 6- 1, 6- 0 at the same stage last year, 19- yearold Iga Swiatek turned the tables on top- seeded Simona Halep, sending the 2018 champion packing 6- 1, 6- 2 with powerful groundstrokes and exquisite net play to advance to her f irst Grand Slam quarterfinal.
“She was everywhere,” said Halep, who had been on a career- best winning streak of 17 matches. “I will have a chocolate, and I will be better tomorrow.”
That upset was followed by another moments later. Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan ousted fifthseeded Kiki Bertens, winning 6- 4, 6- 4. Swiatek and Trevisan will now play each other in what will be a f irst Grand Slam quarterfinal for them both.
“At this level, nobody surprises anybody anymore,” said Halep.
And it was only partially business as usual for the men. Rafael Nadal advanced, beating American Sebastian Korda, a 20- yearold qualifier, 6- 1, 6- 1, 6- 2.
Nadal has yet to drop a set in his pursuit of a 13th French Open crown that would be his 20th major title overall, tying Roger Federer. His opponent in his 14th quarterfinal at Roland Garros will be dangerous debutant Jannik Sinner.
By making the men’s last eight as a newcomer, the 19year- old Italian matched a feat last achieved by Nadal himself, in 2005, on his march to the first of his 12 titles in Paris. Nadal and Sinner’s match will be the f irst between the 34- year- old and the youngest man in a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
So impressive has Sinner been on the clay that his 6- 3, 6- 3, 4- 6, 6- 3 win against U. S. Open finalist Alexander Zverev hardly seemed like an upset, despite the 68- spot gulf separating them in tour rankings.
Zverev said he was sick, so feverish and short of breath that he “shouldn’t have played.”
The tournament said Zverev did not consult its doctors before Sunday’s match. His last COVID- 19 test was Tuesday, and he was due for one Sunday. According to ESPN, Zverev refused to answer a question about testing for COVID- 19.