Kalinskaya wins marathon match to reach first Roland Garros quarterfinal

Anna Kalinskaya is through to her first Roland-Garros quarterfinal after a dramatic 2-hour, 49-minute battle against Anastasia Potapova. The 24th-ranked Russian secured a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) victory in a match that saw both players serve for the win in the deciding set.

Kalinskaya, 27, will match her best Grand Slam performance with this quarterfinal appearance, having also reached that stage at the Australian Open in 2024. She could face Diane Parry, the last French player remaining in the draw, in the next round if Parry defeats Maja Chwalinska.

"I am in shock. I can't believe the match is over. It was an incredible battle until the last second. It was very difficult," Kalinskaya said after the match. She overcame Potapova, who had eliminated defending champion Coco Gauff in the previous round.

The match was a tense affair, particularly the third set. Kalinskaya saved four break points at 1-1 before taking a 4-1 lead. Potapova fought back, leading 5-4 and then 6-5, serving for the match twice. However, Kalinskaya broke back on both occasions. The Russian ultimately prevailed in a nail-biting super tiebreak, winning six of the last seven points after trailing 4-1.

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I am in shock. I can't believe the match is over. It was an incredible battle until the last second. It was very difficult.