World number two and second seed Aryna Sabalenka is through to the Round of 16 at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris. Sabalenka defeated her good friend Paula Badosa of Spain in straight sets.
It was a very competitive opening set between these two friends and rivals.
The pair traded service breaks early on but it was Badosa who made the first move, breaking the Sabalenka serve twice on her way to a 5-3 lead.
Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion however, raised her level.
She fought back to level the set at five games a piece, before earning a decisive break of the Badosa serve in the penultimate game and then serving it out comfortably.
Sadly, for the Spaniard who’s dropped to 139th in the world rankings nursing a back injury, Sabalenka continued to control the match with her booming ground strokes, racing to a 4-love lead.
And she made no mistake securing a 7-5, 6-1 victory.
Earlier, Elena Rybakina of Khazakstan, the fourth seed also advanced to the Round of 16 with a win over 25th seed Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Rybakina took some time to find her rhythm but she managed to get the better of her opponent’s serve three times, to take the opening set.
The former Wimbledon champion was more dialed in set two sealing a 6-4, 6-2 victory after just a shade over an hour.
In the men’s draw, Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime, the 21st seed also advanced to the Round of 16.
Auger-Aliassime dispatched 15th seed Ben Shelton of the United States in straight sets.
The score 6-4, 6-2 and 6-1.
