Kasatkina’s dreams come true as she smashes Wozniacki’s hopes of back-to-back slams

Caroline Wozniacki’s bid for a second straight Grand Slam title is over. The second-seeded Dane lost to Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (5), 6-3 yesterday in the fourth round of the French Open.

Kasatkina broke for a 5-3 lead and then served out the match, which started on Sunday but was suspended by darkness. “It’s something like a dream come true to play on this court, it was my dream since childhood,” said the 21-year-old Russian, who is seeded 14th.

“First time I took a racket in my hand I played like this. It’s just the way of my mind.”

It was Kasatkina’s third straight win over Wozniacki, who won the Australian Open for her first major but has never been beyond the quarter-finals at the French Open.

Kasatkina has reached the quarter-finals for the first time at any major, and she will next play US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Top-seeded Simona Halep remains on course for her elusive first major after beating 16th-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-1.

Halep lost this year’s Australian Open final to Wozniacki. She also lost in last year’s French Open final and in the 2014 final at Roland Garros. The 26-year-old Romanian will now face two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.

Kerber reached the last eight in Paris for the second time by beating Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3. Garcia saved four match points when serving while trailing 5-1. But Kerber took her nextchancewhentheseventhseeded Garcia, again serving to stay in the match, hit a forehand wide.

Kerber has never been beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Garcia’s loss means there are no French men or women remaining in the tournament.

Maria Sharapova advanced to the quarter-finals without playing following Serena Williams’ withdrawal through injury and will now face Garbine Muguruza in the last eight after the Wimbledon champion’s opponent Lesia Tsurenko pulled up injured early in the first set of their match. 0 Daria Kasatkina: 7-6, 6-3 winner in the fourth round.