Maria Sakkari has qualified for the Roland-Garros semifinals for the first time in her career, making her the first Greek woman in history to make the final four of a tennis Grand Slam.

In a major tournament upset, Sakkari beat last year’s champion, 20-year-old Pole, Iga Świątek, in two straight sets (6-4, 6-4). The Greek player gave little room to her opponent in Paris, breaking her serve in both sets and dominating the court with a startling array of powerful baseline returns and deftly-placed drop shots.

At the start of the second set, Świątek, currently ranked 9th in the world, requested a medical timeout, returning to the court with her right thigh strapped. Sakkari’s victory ended the Pole’s 10-match, 22-set winning streak. 

Following the quarterfinal match, No. 17 seed Sakkari thanked her team and acknowledged the support of the in-person audience and those who were watching in Greece. She expressed hope that she would continue to progress in the tournament.  

In the 4th round, Sakkari eliminated last year’s finalist, World No. 5, Sofia Kenin, in an equally dominant display. She will meet 25-year-old Czech, Barbora Krejčíková, in the semifinal on Thursday, June 10, at 5.15 p.m. (EET). 

Two Greeks in the semifinals

Men’s Singles player Stefanos Tsitsipas has also qualified for the semifinals of the Roland-Garros, his third consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.

The Greek maintained his punishing form in the quarterfinal match late on Tuesday night, beating World No. 2, Russian Daniil Medvedev in three straight sets (6-3, 7-6, 7-5). Tsitsipas’ victory was all the more spectacular considering his record of six defeats at the hands of the Russian player.

Tsitsipas goes on to play Germany’s Alexander Zverev in Friday’s semifinal.

Sakkari and Tsitsipas continue to go from strength to strength in the French Open. Bring on the semifinals!