via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 3, 2021 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his second round match against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 3, 2021 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his second round match against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Women’s tennis continues to spin a web of surprises in Grand Slams, especially at the French Open every year. It was the young Polish player, Iga Swiatek, who won the title out of nowhere in 2020. This year, Slovenian player Tamara Zidansek has reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final on the Parisian clay, after defeating Paula Badosa in the quarters.
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 8, 2021 Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek in action during her quarter final match against Spain’s Paula Badosa REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Watch this story: Toughest Moments of ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal at French Open
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Tamara Zidansek was congratulated by Novak Djokovic after the quarter-final victory against Paula Badosa
In the women’s singles quarter-finals at Roland Garros, there are as many as six debutants besides Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Iga Swiatek. When Tamara Zidansek defeated Badosa in three tight sets in the quarters, she became the first Slovenian to reach the semi-finals of a Major.
The match was a roller-coaster ride with constant shifts in momentum between the two players. The Spaniard went neck-to-neck with Zidansek but fell marginally short in the end. Even the match stats show that it could have gone either side in the end.
Unstoppable 🚀
World No. 85 Tamara Zidansek had previously never reached R3 at a major. She’s now a Grand Slam *semi-finalist* with a 7-5, 4-6, 8-6 takedown of No.33 seed Paula Badosa. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ef0xgCQgsN
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2021
Heading into the semi-finals, the Slovenian defeated the likes of Bianca Andreescu and Sorana Cirstea. Before Roland Garros, Zidansek reached the finals of WTA Bogota Open a couple of months ago. She lost to Maria Camila Osorio Serrano in the finals.
After her quarter-final victory over Paula Badosa, Zidansek was seen in the locker room, where she was congratulated by world number one men’s player, Novak Djokovic. The Serb fist-pumped the Slovenian for her victory.
Reaching your first Grand Slam semifinal? Unforgettable.
Getting congratulated by the world No. 1? Even better. 🤝 😊@tamara_zidansek | @DjokerNole | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Pq3rUBwB1i
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 8, 2021
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Tamara Zidansek was awe-struck by Djokovic as the duo were seen exchanging a few words after the fist pump. Later on, Zidansek’s team members came over to congratulate her on the massive victory.
The young Slovenian will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first women’s semi-final at French Open this year. Pavlyuchenkova also played a tight, three-setter against Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina, who stunned the legendary Serena Williams in the previous round, lost the match to the Russian with a double-fault.
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The first two women’s singles quarter-finals on the Parisian clay were enthralling contests as they set the bar for the other set of matches to be played tomorrow in Paris.
