18-year-old Mira Andreeva reaches quarterfinals
At Roland Garros, the season’s second Grand Slam (total prize money €61,723,000 (approximately $66,043,610)), top seeds have tumbled while teenagers are stealing the spotlight.
João Fonseca of Brazil, ranked No. 30 and born in August 2006, upset No. 16 Casper Ruud of Norway 3-1 (7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2) in the men’s round of 16 on June 1 (KST). Earlier, Fonseca knocked out world No. 4 Novak Djokovic of Serbia — who had been chasing a record 25 major titles — with a 3-2 third-round victory. Rafael Hodar, born September 2006 and ranked No. 29, also mounted a comeback to beat Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta (No. 89) 3-2 (4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2). Both Fonseca and Hodar reached the quarterfinals of a major for the first time in their careers. Hodar is the sixth player since 2000 to reach the French Open quarters on his tournament debut. Over the past 40 years, this is only the fifth time two teenagers under 20 have advanced to the men’s singles quarterfinals at the same major.
On the women’s side, world No. 8 Mira Andreeva of Russia, born April 2007, cruised past No. 170 Jil Teichmann of Switzerland 6-3, 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals.
By contrast, several top names were sent packing: in the men’s draw Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (Italy) were eliminated, while in the women’s draw world No. 2 Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan), defending champion Coco Gauff (No. 4, USA), and Iga Świątek (No. 3, Poland) — who had been chasing a fifth French Open title — all bowed out.
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