(Paris) Grand Slam winners Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round at Roland Garros with straight sets victories on Saturday.
2022 Wimbledon champion and fourth seed, Rybakina beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2.
Sabalenka, titled twice in Australia, followed up with a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Paula Badosa.
“It’s hard to play against your best friend,” Sabalenka said.
After leading 5-3 in the first set, Sabalenka won eight straight games to take control.
“I had good feelings and I trusted my shots,” said the Belarusian.
Sabalenka’s best performance at Roland Garros was a presence in the semi-finals last year.
Rybakina, the only Kazakh to win a major title, reached the quarter-finals in Paris three years ago.
Rybakina lost her serve in the seventh game of the first set but fought back immediately, for a 4-4 tie.
PHOTO BERTRAND GUAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Elena Rybakina
France’s Varvara Gracheva advanced to the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time, beating Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-3.
Madison Keys will play against Emma Navarro, an American duel.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will face No. 30 seed Lorenzo Musetti.
Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverez faces Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev faces Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic as his rival.