The 127th edition of the French Open began on May 28 and has had many surprises along the way. Compared to last year, it has been more competitive as supposed to nine of the top ten seeds being defeated in the first three rounds. This year, the world number one and two in Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka are undoubtedly the favorites to take the title; but they are joined by sixth and seventh seeds Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur.
Here is how the rest of the top ten seeds fared at this year's French Open.
Iga Świątek: yet to play her quarter-final match
Aryna Sabalenka: in the semi finals
Jessica Pegula: third round defeat to Elise Mertens (6-1 6-3)
Elena Rybakina: withdrew before the third round due to illness
Caroline Garcia: second round defeat to Anna Blinkova (4-6 6-3 7-5)
Coco Gauff: yet to play her quarter-final match
Ons Jabeur: yet to play her quarter-final match
Maria Sakkari: first-round defeat to Karolina Muchová (7-6 7-5)
Daria Kasatkina: fourth round defeat to Elina Svitolina (6-4 7-6)
Petra Kvitova: first-round defeat to Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-3 6-4)
The biggest shocks in the first round are undoubtedly Maria Sakkari and Petra Kvitova losing in straight sets, but also last year's quarter-finalist and eleventh seed Veronika Kudermetova also lost in the first round to Anna-Karolína Schmiedlová. We also saw the 2021 champion Barbora Krejčíková depart in the first round, losing to Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-4.
16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who is deemed to be a promising talent and star of the future, qualified for the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time - becoming the youngest female player to do so since Amelie Mauresmo in 1995 at the age of 15. She was joined by her older sister Erika, only 18 years old herself, who also qualified for the main draw but was defeated in the first round.
Defending champion Świątek has not dropped a set thus far, racking up four 6-0 sets in the first three rounds. In the fourth round, however, we did not get to see all too much due to Lesia Tsurenko having to retire due to illness, with the Ukrainian also commenting on having breathing difficulties during the match. After the game, she commented, "I have something like Rybakina had, a virus or whatever it is."
It is important to preface that at the time of writing, two quarterfinals have been played; with Karolina Muchová defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5 6-2. In the second quarterfinal played today, the number two seed Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4 6-2 win over Elina Svitolina. Credit must be handed to the latter, who only gave birth to her daughter only eight months ago. Muchová and Sabalenka will play against one another for a spot in the French Open final on Thursday, June 8 at 9 AM EST.
In the first match on Wednesday, June 6, at 5 AM EST, the seventh seed Ons Jabeur goes up against fourteenth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, to set up a semi-final matchup with one of the two finalists from 2022. This is because June 7 sees a rematch of the 2022 final, with the reigning champion and world number one Iga Świątek taking on last year's runner-up and world number six, Coco Gauff. At 6:30 AM EST, the teenage sensation will hope to better the 22-year-old who defeated her in last year's final.