French Open: Third seed Sabalenka crashes out; Azarenka in fourth spherical

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the French Open with a 4-6 6-2 0-6 third-round defeat to Russian thirty first seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Friday, leaving the ladies’s draw with out its prime three seeds on the claycourt Grand Slam.
After the exits of Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka, the Belarusian was the very best seed remaining this week in Paris however she didn’t hold a leash on her unforced errors to lose to the skilled 29-year-old Russian.

Upset City 🏙
Early Day 6 motion featured @NastiaPav doing what she does finest towards No.3 seed Sabalenka. Get caught up👇
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2021
Sabalenka received off to a rollicking begin for a 3-0 lead however her unforced errors abruptly mounted and Pavlyuchenkova gained six of the subsequent seven video games to bag the set.
The 23-year-old hammered a flurry of winners to take 4 video games in a row to win the second set and stage the match earlier than Pavlyuchenkova went off the court docket for medical consideration, returning along with her left thigh closely strapped.
The damage appeared to have made no distinction to Pavlyuchenkova’s sport as she handed a bagel to her opponent within the decider to arrange a gathering towards Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Azarenka in fourth spherical for first time in eight years
Azarenka broke for 3-2 on her third alternative as Keys hit a backhand lengthy and a passing shot winner earned her one other break earlier than she bagged the opening set on serve.
Former world primary Victoria Azarenka reached the fourth spherical of the French Open for the primary time since 2013 with a 6-2 6-2 victory towards American Madison Keys on Friday.
The Belarusian, who reached a career-best semi-final at Roland Garros eight years in the past, was a doubt for the claycourt Grand Slam after withdrawing from the Madrid Open final month with again ache, however she has been strong up to now.
“Right from the beginning I knew there would be a lot of intensity, heavy balls. I tried to be solid and put pressure on her so she cannot dictate the points,” the fifteenth seed mentioned in a courtside interview.

Power strikes 💥
Into the 3R for the primary time since 2015, @vika7 marches on previous Madison Keys 6-2, 6-2. The No.15 seed faces Pavlyuchenkova subsequent.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/THNnAyA2Z8
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2021
Azarenka broke for 3-2 on her third alternative as Keys hit a backhand lengthy and a passing shot winner earned her one other break earlier than she bagged the opening set on serve.
She stole her opponent’s serve twice once more within the second set, preserving Keys on the again foot all through.
With the highest three seeds out after Ash Barty retired injured, Naomi Osaka withdrew and Aryna Sabalenka misplaced on Friday, the ladies’s draw is now large open.
Azarenka subsequent faces Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who despatched packing third seed Sabalenka of Belarus earlier.