A friendship will briefly be put on hold on Saturday when Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa of Spain go head to head in the third round of the French Open.
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 21, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka with Spain's Paula Badosa after winning their quarter final match REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
Asked about the intense rivalry between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova which took centre stage in the women's game for over a decade, the world number two told reporters:"I would say that right now top-10 players, we are all good with each other. "I think it's going to be fun," Badosa told reporters after her second-round comeback win over Yulia Putintseva.
In the men's draw, Norway's seventh seed Casper Ruud, runner-up for the last two years, will play Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, while defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Lorenzo Musetti.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sabalenka and Djokovic progress, Roland Garros bans alcohol in standsPARIS : Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic soared into the third round of the French Open on Thursday as tournament organisers stepped up their fight against unruly fans by announcing an alcohol ban in the stands while also dealing with the wet-weather backlog.
Read more »
Sabalenka eases past qualifier Uchijima at French OpenPARIS : Second seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima 6-2 6-2 under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Thursday to move into the French Open third round.
Read more »
Ruud, Sabalenka light up Roland Garros after rain wreaks havoc on schedulePARIS : Casper Ruud and Aryna Sabalenka shone brightly on a cold, rainy day at the French Open on Tuesday as they moved into the second round with dominant victories but spectators at Roland Garros were largely starved of action with a long evening looming.
Read more »
Sabalenka mows down teenager Andreeva in French Open first roundPARIS : Second seed Aryna Sabalenka launched her bid for a maiden French Open title and second Grand Slam crown of the year with a breezy 6-1 6-2 first-round win over Russian teenager Erika Andreeva on Tuesday that will serve as a warning to her main rivals.
Read more »
Sabalenka spurred on by Swiatek's French Open dominanceIga Swiatek's dominance at Roland Garros has fuelled rival Aryna Sabalenka's desire to improve going into this year's French Open, the world number two said on Friday.
Read more »
Sabalenka hits stride on clay with sights on first French Open crownAryna Sabalenka arrives at the French Open as the player most likely to challenge Iga Swiatek's dominance on Parisian clay as the world number two goes in search of her second major title this season after overcoming a brief loss of form.
Read more »