World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 French Open, storming into the last 16 with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Serbia’s Olga Danilovic on a sun-soaked Court Philippe Chatrier. The Belarusian powerhouse, a three-time Grand Slam champion, needed just 79 minutes to dispatch the world No. 34, reinforcing her status as the tournament’s top contender. Now, Sabalenka faces a formidable challenge in American Amanda Anisimova, a player who holds a 5-2 head-to-head advantage and has a knack for unsettling the top seed. “I’m super happy with the win, Olga is a fighter,” Sabalenka said, her focus already shifting to the high-stakes showdown ahead. “Here it’s about dreams, I give my all.”
Sabalenka’s journey through the French Open has been a masterclass in dominance. Opening her campaign with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Kamilla Rakhimova, she followed with a 6-3, 6-1 rout of Jil Teichmann, dropping just one game in her opener and overcoming an early break against Teichmann. Against Danilovic, Sabalenka surged to a 5-0 lead in the first set, her ferocious groundstrokes and five aces leaving little room for resistance. Though Danilovic briefly leveled the second set at 3-3, Sabalenka’s relentless aggression—hitting 30 winners across the match—sealed the deal. “It doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says, she really made me work for every point,” Sabalenka noted, acknowledging the Serbian’s tenacity despite the lopsided scoreline.
The 27-year-old’s evolution on clay has been remarkable. Once a surface that exposed her high-risk, power-driven game, Sabalenka has transformed into a clay-court titan, with three Madrid Open titles and finals in Stuttgart and Rome. “When I’m on court, I’m a completely different person. I’m very aggressive. Very focused. Here it’s not about jokes. It’s about dreams,” she said, contrasting her fierce on-court persona with her jovial off-court demeanor. Her ability to blend blistering pace with topspin and occasional drop shots has made her a favorite at Roland Garros, where her best result remains a 2023 semi-final loss to Karolina Muchova. A stomach illness derailed her 2024 campaign against Mirra Andreeva, but Sabalenka is determined to avoid past pitfalls. “I’m definitely not going to go for the same meal I had before that quarter-finals match,” she quipped, reflecting on lessons learned.
Now, Sabalenka faces a daunting test in Anisimova, the 16th seed who powered past Clara Tauson 7-6(7/4), 6-4 in the third round. The 23-year-old American, ranked No. 18, has a storied history against Sabalenka, winning five of their seven encounters, including a 6-4, 6-2 upset at the 2024 Canadian Open. “She’s an amazing player, so it’s always really tough playing against her,” Anisimova said after that victory, crediting her ability to stay composed under windy conditions. Anisimova’s flat, piercing groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play have historically disrupted Sabalenka’s rhythm, though the Belarusian won their most recent Grand Slam clash at the 2024 Australian Open. With a career-high ranking of No. 16 and a 2025 Qatar Open title, Anisimova is riding a resurgence after a mental health break in 2023, inspired by Naomi Osaka’s advocacy. “I think taking the break really just helped me, because I honestly never took a break that was longer than two weeks in my life,” she said.
The stakes are high for both players. Sabalenka, with a 33-3 record in 2025 and titles in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid, is chasing her first French Open crown to complement her Australian Open and US Open victories. Anisimova, a 2019 French Open semi-finalist at age 17, aims to reclaim her place among the elite, having upset players like Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova in the past. Their head-to-head history, with Anisimova’s 4-0 clay-court dominance until Sabalenka’s 2022 Rome win, promises a fierce battle. “I just try to stick to my game, play very aggressive,” Anisimova said of her approach against Sabalenka, a strategy that could test the top seed’s newfound patience.
As Roland Garros heats up, this fourth-round clash is a pivotal moment. Sabalenka’s 9-0 record in her last nine Grand Slam last-16 matches gives her confidence, but Anisimova’s track record and fearless style make her a dangerous opponent. With Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina looming in the draw, the winner could gain a crucial edge in the title race. For Sabalenka, it’s about sustaining her “target on my back” mentality, while Anisimova looks to reignite the spark that once made her a teenage prodigy. Tennis fans are bracing for a showdown that could define the tournament’s narrative.
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