![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TA4AES3WWQ7UTKZTSHXU45SOPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4747591a047dcc97a981eb1fe9faf56088e31d488afbb53c7b1c85af7db767f4&width=400&height=225)
Elise Mertens stretches for a return. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/STPQKBVY4DQJ3RUGKJSI63VIXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4f1c127155b242b57048c6dc9392a2a6bbf1e87e53addfd22dc8785d40fef93&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her third-round match at the French Open 7-5, 6-1 against Paula Badosa on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CNDL6LSEGOVP7GZIWH4CKL6VKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f572a34f5be3fcd71c01c4c864d23f8a9feb12c445a92314efa57488c34997a2&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka, right, embraces Paula Badosa after her victory. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VVVJZAWVKJN6M6XEIZRPMLA6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c58e7d57ce8e7d7b78c2c79b6529cafd1a3553776d719756bbea56db78ab1b3&width=400&height=225)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning against Spain's Paula Badosa. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NETUC2GCGDPORRSFPSCS4KG2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b32ac0ed9c70221239bda712f3b34d66aa1d9ece7421e3e57ca23e452a1afa10&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka in action during her third round match against Spain's Paula Badosa. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4XG32YB4SZ3VUALIKZM2ZVRQAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=796ce1d1a6aeddb8a3b04e99f73e2304b4556ee230a8204a3540f27fd4c9e95b&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka serves against Paula Badosa. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZBPVIGKE5OA5QXA2R6NOZZ3FUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ddeffcf07102824fa8a52dd89f8dc9f166ee9915173d8f7e8143dbb9a9169924&width=400&height=225)
Paula Badosa during her third-round match against Aryna Sabalenka. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYZUHJ2VSKZCRQH36WNVOBGIRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a960b70563ec599289c8e5db8f7412671dffb503ec040bcf99020b2ce14e2f09&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka in action against Paula Badosa. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3MR6KCACLZTXB6HBAOMQCY2UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5121cdbc13a7ef21a88917110c4559053826383955f5304e5abd98b1201d7e49&width=400&height=225)
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, right, shakes hands with Belgium's Elise Mertens after winning their French Open third-round match 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JXOKJFSIHDVDS6JFJQK3EUSZIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=07f8a7f0b4fd980bc5380eecc03f25673c13a7f460bfe06c1a0305c3535b4e7c&width=400&height=225)
Elena Rybakina after winning against Elise Mertens. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MPMQ3ZDYCMBI2UXSIBG6TYTB6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c001f2d54744ceef7ef159eba4f5b9d7233153bdb841d0026e92bf78650f5b0&width=400&height=225)
Elena Rybakina in action against Belgium's Elise Mertens. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NACEESDR3RH7FYB2CPM2TXI4YI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e34b5c3a6933a47c851c6c29fd3a302a1f7e779521cdfee35ba606d50784e194&width=400&height=225)
Elise Mertens plays a forehand against Elena Rybakina. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TA4AES3WWQ7UTKZTSHXU45SOPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4747591a047dcc97a981eb1fe9faf56088e31d488afbb53c7b1c85af7db767f4&width=400&height=225)
Elise Mertens stretches for a return. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/STPQKBVY4DQJ3RUGKJSI63VIXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4f1c127155b242b57048c6dc9392a2a6bbf1e87e53addfd22dc8785d40fef93&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her third-round match at the French Open 7-5, 6-1 against Paula Badosa on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CNDL6LSEGOVP7GZIWH4CKL6VKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f572a34f5be3fcd71c01c4c864d23f8a9feb12c445a92314efa57488c34997a2&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka, right, embraces Paula Badosa after her victory. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VVVJZAWVKJN6M6XEIZRPMLA6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c58e7d57ce8e7d7b78c2c79b6529cafd1a3553776d719756bbea56db78ab1b3&width=400&height=225)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning against Spain's Paula Badosa. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NETUC2GCGDPORRSFPSCS4KG2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b32ac0ed9c70221239bda712f3b34d66aa1d9ece7421e3e57ca23e452a1afa10&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka in action during her third round match against Spain's Paula Badosa. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4XG32YB4SZ3VUALIKZM2ZVRQAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=796ce1d1a6aeddb8a3b04e99f73e2304b4556ee230a8204a3540f27fd4c9e95b&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka serves against Paula Badosa. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZBPVIGKE5OA5QXA2R6NOZZ3FUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ddeffcf07102824fa8a52dd89f8dc9f166ee9915173d8f7e8143dbb9a9169924&width=400&height=225)
Paula Badosa during her third-round match against Aryna Sabalenka. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYZUHJ2VSKZCRQH36WNVOBGIRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a960b70563ec599289c8e5db8f7412671dffb503ec040bcf99020b2ce14e2f09&width=400&height=225)
Aryna Sabalenka in action against Paula Badosa. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3MR6KCACLZTXB6HBAOMQCY2UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5121cdbc13a7ef21a88917110c4559053826383955f5304e5abd98b1201d7e49&width=400&height=225)
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, right, shakes hands with Belgium's Elise Mertens after winning their French Open third-round match 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JXOKJFSIHDVDS6JFJQK3EUSZIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=07f8a7f0b4fd980bc5380eecc03f25673c13a7f460bfe06c1a0305c3535b4e7c&width=400&height=225)
Elena Rybakina after winning against Elise Mertens. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MPMQ3ZDYCMBI2UXSIBG6TYTB6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c001f2d54744ceef7ef159eba4f5b9d7233153bdb841d0026e92bf78650f5b0&width=400&height=225)
Elena Rybakina in action against Belgium's Elise Mertens. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NACEESDR3RH7FYB2CPM2TXI4YI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e34b5c3a6933a47c851c6c29fd3a302a1f7e779521cdfee35ba606d50784e194&width=400&height=225)
Elise Mertens plays a forehand against Elena Rybakina. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TA4AES3WWQ7UTKZTSHXU45SOPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4747591a047dcc97a981eb1fe9faf56088e31d488afbb53c7b1c85af7db767f4&width=400&height=225)
Elise Mertens stretches for a return. EPA
Sabalenka brushes aside Badosa, Rybakina through to French Open fourth round
Belarusian world No 2 beats close friend 7-5, 6-1 while Kazak powers past Elise Mertens of Belgium
![The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9e2159fa-e4db-4215-b498-6b3607b75bee.png?smart=true&auth=cf728de2f2d93afc214682199f23d53c844677eb59567fe99abdb1c7e9f03161&width=70&height=70)
The National
01 June, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic