Top-ranked tennis players faced unexpected exits at the 2022 French Open on May 31 as world number two Daniil Medvedev and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas were eliminated in the fourth round. Iga Swiatek, the women’s top seed, advanced after a tense encounter against Chinese player Zheng Qinwen, extending her winning streak to 32 matches.
Medvedev Falls to Cilic in Straight Sets ¶
US Open champion Medvedev was defeated by 20th seed Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour 45 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The 33-year-old Croatian broke serve five times, marking his first victory over the Russian in four meetings. Cilic, playing his best tennis in recent weeks, will face Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals. Medvedev had reached the quarter-finals in 2022 but was outplayed this time.
Rune Stuns Tsitsipas in Five-Set Thriller ¶
Teenager Holger Rune of Denmark shocked 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set battle, advancing to the quarterfinals. The 19-year-old, ranked 40th, secured a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory with 54 winners. Rune became the first Danish man to reach the French Open quarter-finals in 2022, joining 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz as the second teenager to progress this far since 1994.
Rune credited his tactical discipline for the win, stating, "I knew if I strayed from my plan, I would lose." Tsitsipas acknowledged the challenge, saying, "I can do way better next time." Rune will face Norwegian Casper Ruud, who made history as the first Norwegian man to reach the last eight.
Swiatek Survives Zheng Qinwen Scare ¶
Iga Swiatek survived a dramatic encounter against injured Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen, winning 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-2. The 2020 champion extended her winning streak to 32 matches, matching Justine Henin’s third-longest streak of the 21st century. Zheng, who had previously defeated 2018 champion Simona Halep, required a medical timeout in the second set due to a leg injury.
Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals after the American defeated Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu. Meanwhile, Russian players Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova set up an all-Russian quarterfinal clash.
