Paris (AFP)

The Polish Iga Swiatek, defending champion and world No. 9, lost in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros against the Greek Maria Sakkari (18th) in two sets 6-4, 6-4 and 1h35 min on Wednesday.

Sakkari, 25, joins in the last four three other newcomers at this stage in the Grand Slam: her future opponent, the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (33rd), as well as the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (32nd) and the Slovenian Tamara Zidansek (85th) .

This is the first time in the Open era that none of the top ten seeds in the women's draw has reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

"I don't realize, I have no words. It's a dream come true," smiled the Greek.

Swiatek, who celebrated his twentieth birthday ten days ago, remained on 22 sets won consecutively on Parisian clay, a series started at the start of his winning fortnight last fall.

On Central court bathed in hot sun, the young Polish girl got off to the best start to lead 2-0.

But Sakkari immediately got back on track.

With 4 games everywhere, the very athletic Greek, with heavy hitting and impeccable ground coverage, signed a series of four games, time to pocket the first set and widen the gap in the second.

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It was then that Swiatek called in the physiotherapist and had his right thigh strapped.

Difficult to say, however, how the Polish was physically embarrassed.

Sakkari was in any case not allowed to be disturbed by this interruption and offered her second victory over a top 10 player in the Grand Slam, the second in a row after her success against the American Sofia Kenin (6-1, 6-3) in the previous round.

"I will not say what my game plan was because I will play against her again and I do not want to divulge my secrets ... What I can say is that when I entered the court, I thought to myself that it 'was a very important game but I had to take advantage of it, "she explained.

Before this 2021 edition of Roland-Garros, the Greek had never passed the round of 16 in a major tournament, and even the third round in Paris.

Sakkari won the only title on clay on his record, in Rabat in 2019.

Krejcikova, her last opponent on the road to the final, dismissed the young American Coco Gauff (17, 25th) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 earlier in the day.

© 2021 AFP