Sabalenka storms into French Open last 16

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a maiden French Open title with a commanding 6-0, 7-5 victory over Daria Kasatkina in the third round on Saturday at Roland Garros.

The top seed from Belarus made a dominant start, racing through the opening set in just 29 minutes, overpowering Kasatkina with aggressive baseline play and consistent depth.

However, the second set brought more resistance. Sabalenka briefly lost momentum early on, committing two unforced errors and a double fault that allowed Kasatkina to break serve in the opening game. The Australian consolidated the break with a confident hold as Sabalenka struggled to find her rhythm.

Despite the setback, Sabalenka regrouped quickly, winning three consecutive games to regain control. Kasatkina, though, continued to apply pressure and kept the set competitive deep into the contest.

Serving at 6-5, Kasatkina faced a late surge from Sabalenka, who raised her intensity at the crucial moment. The World No. 1 created three match points and converted on her second opportunity to seal victory in 1 hour and 17 minutes.

The win also marked a milestone for Sabalenka, making her only the ninth woman in history to record 100 victories while holding the World No. 1 ranking.

“I was happy in the tough moments I never gave up,” Sabalenka said after the match.

Reflecting on the challenge posed by Kasatkina, she added that being tested could benefit her ahead of the second week of the tournament.

“Good to be tested… to feel the fight, to activate that fight mode and feel the pressure a little bit. I feel like it’s a good preparation for the second week,” she said.

In the round of 16, Sabalenka will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a highly anticipated clash.

The pair have a shared history at major tournaments. Osaka won their only Grand Slam meeting at the 2018 US Open in the same round, a run that ended with her first major title. However, Sabalenka has since won both of their recent encounters at Indian Wells and Madrid earlier this season.

Sabalenka acknowledged Osaka’s return to form, noting her steady progress.

“It’s great to see her back… she’s fighting, she’s building her level,” Sabalenka said.

Looking ahead, she added: “I’m ready for the fight. Ready to do anything it takes to get the win.”