French Open 2022: 5 biggest upsets from Day 6 ft. Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber
Third-round action commenced on the sixth day of the French Open on Friday. While most of the top seeds sailed through to the next round, a few fell by the wayside.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic had no problems dispatching Aljaz Bedene in straight sets. His possible quarterfinal opponent - 13-time champion Rafael Nadal - did the same to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz also advanced in straight sets.
Grand Slam fourth round feels 🙌
@alcarazcarlos03 | #RolandGarros https://t.co/diOIKLB3D9
On the women's side of the draw, Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova booked their places in the second week. However, a few other seeded players weren't as lucky. On that note, here's a look at the five biggest upsets on the sixth day of the French Open:
#5 (26) Karen Khachanov beats (10) Cameron Norrie 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
Cameron Norrie's fine start to his Roland Garros campaign was brought to an abrupt halt by Karen Khachanov.
After the 10th seed whizzed through his first two rounds without dropping a set, Norrie dropped the opening two sets against Khachanov as the Russian took control of the match. The 26th seed was on the cusp on a routine straight-set win when he led 4-2 in the third. However, Norrie bounced back with five straight games to force a fourth set.
To his credit, though, Khachanov regrouped quickly to wrap up the win in three hours and 37 minutes, converting his fourth match point.
A sigh of relief 😅
On his fourth match point, @karenkhachanov upsets Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 to return to the fourth round at #RolandGarros. https://t.co/zanWos2FKz
The 2019 quarterfinalist will next take on Alcaraz for a place in the last eight.
#4 Aliaksandra Sasnovich beats (21) Angelique Kerber 6-4, 7-6(5)
Angelique Kerber was on a seven-match win streak coming into her third-round clash with Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
However, the Strasbourg champion struggled to get going against Sasnovich, who had taken out reigning US Open winner Emma Raducanu in the previous round. Having lost to the German last week in Strasbourg, Sasnovich was in no mood for an encore.
The Belarusian recovered from losing her serve in the opening game of the match to dump the former World No. 1 out of the tournament.
Heading to the #RolandGarros fourth round for the first time 🔜
Aliaksandra Sasnovich knocks out no.21 seed Kerber 6-4 7-6(5). https://t.co/b8idIM4My4
Sasnovich will next take on Italy's Martina Trevisan for a place in the quarterfinals.
#3 (17) Leylah Fernandez beats (14) Belinda Bencic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
In a clash between two seeded players, 14th seed Belinda Bencic came up short against 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, seeded 17th in Paris this year.
In the pair's second meeting, it was the Canadian left-hander who prevailed once again, winning 7-5 in the third.
Fernandez the fighter 🇨🇦
@leylahfernandez secures a first fourth round in Paris outfoxing Bencic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in just under three hours
#RolandGarros https://t.co/eem6PwewJX
Fernandez started strongly, storming into a 3-0 lead, but Bencic reeled off five games in a row to take control of the set. However, failure to serve out the set cost her dear as the Canadian grabbed the opener. Undettered, Bencic restored parity before opening up a 2-0 lead in the decider.
However, Fernandez won five games in a row to serve for the match. Although Bencic prevented her opponent from doing so on the first attempt, the Canadian made no mistake at the second time of asking as she booked a fourth-round clash with Amanda Anisimova.
#2 Bernabe Zapata Miralles beats (23) John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3
John Isner's run at the French Open was brought to a shuddering halt by qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
The American dropped the opener but fought back by taking the second set. Zapata Miralles, though, took a crucial two-sets-to-one lead and arrived on the cusp of victory in the fourth, leading 5-2.
However, he squandered that lead and four match points as Isner forced a decider. To his credit, though, Zapata Miralles rediscovered his mojo to win the fifth set and move into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the very first time.
A day he’ll never forget 🥹
Qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles shocks No.23 seed John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 to reach first Slam final 16
#RolandGarros https://t.co/EqCnUyKnKo
The World No. 131's victory meant that a Spanish qualifier reached the fourth round of a Major for the first time in nearly four decades. Zapata Miralles will take on Alexander Zverev for a place in the quarterfinals.
#1 (23) Jil Teichmann beats (15) Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5)
Victoria Azarenka came up short against Switzerland's Jil Teichmann in the longest match of the French Open this year.
In a three-hour-38-minute slugfest, Azarenka recovered from a break down to take the opening set. She led by a break in the second, but Teichmann made a spirited. comeback. After the Swiss forced a decider, Azarenka looked to have the contest under control when she served for the match at 5-4.
However, Teichmann broke back and prevailed in a deciding-set super tie-break to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the very first time.
th top 20 win on the seasonSoak it in
✅ 7️⃣th top 20 win on the season
✅ First career Slam fourth round
✅ 3 hours 18 minute epic
#rolandgarros | @jilteichmann https://t.co/XSC0bPXu0L
The 24-year-old will next take on American Sloane Stephens as she seeks to reach her first Major quarterfinal.