SWISS talent Jil Teichmann flew the flag for her nation, becoming the sole player into the Roland Garros fourth round after defeating Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in an epic three-set match lasting more than three hours. On the same day that her higher ranked compatriot Belinda Bencic fell to US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, Teichmann was able to secure her place in the Round of 16 with a 4-6 7-5 7-6 victory over the former world number one and two-time Grand Slam winner.

The Swiss 23rd seed dropped the first set with Azarenka being far more dominant off her serve. The 15th seed produced an 85 per cent first serve percentage compared to her younger opponent’s 56 per cent, whilst also winning 17 of her 26 points off her serve. Teichmann by comparison won just five of 16 off her second serve, and produced two double faults to slip 6-4 down. The Swiss player hit more winners (10-6), but also hit double the unforced errors (16-8). Her net play (11 from 13 points) was proving effective though.

The second set evened up considerably, with Teichmann breaking two times to one, and winning 61 per cnet of her first serve points compared to Azarenka’s 51 per cent. She also served at a higher 62 per cent clip, and though Azarenka was more (74 per cent), Teichmann increased her winners (22-15). She also had more unforced errors again (25-17) as both payers started going for shots, but it was Teichmann who closed out the set 7-5.

The deciding set went all the way to a tiebreaker which was eventually won 10-5 in super tiebreak style. Earlier in the set, Teichmann broke in the second game only for Azarenka to break straight back. The pair continued to hold and then the Belarusian looked to make her move in the ninth game, breaking off a Teichmann unforced error. Not holding back, the 23rd seed slammed home three winners of Azarenka’s service game to break back at 5-5, and then force a tiebreaker. The Swiss talent immediately raced out to a 4-1 lead and was never headed as she closed it out comfortably. Teichmann hit 22 winners for 17 unforced errors in the final set, saving her best for last, with Azarenka having 14 and 18 respectively.

Looking across the entire match, Azarenka served reliably, putting in 79 per cent of her first serves, but only won 55 per cent of her first serve points, recovering well off her second to win 65 per cent of them. Teichmann served a lower 60 per cent clip, but won 65 per cent of her first serve points. Both players broke five times, with Teichmann hitting 54 winners to 35, including 30 off her forehand side. Teichmann now sets her sights on another Grand Slam winner in the form of Sloane Stephens who ended the giant-killing run of Diane Parry.

AROUND THE COURTS

Though Azarenka fell, her compatriot in Aliaksandra Sasnovich continued her great run, defeating German Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber in straight sets, 6-4 7-6, and will now face Italian Martina Trevisan with the winner to reach their first Grand Slam quarter final. Rising stars Fernandez and Amanda Anisimova will also face off in another Round of 16 clash, while Coco Gauff and Elise Mertens won their respective matches in straight sets.

In the men’s singles, there were no major surprises, with the highest seed to fall being British 10th seed Cameron Norrie who bowed out at the hands of Russian Karen Khachanov in four sets. It was a good day for the Spaniards with Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Bernabe Zapata Miralles all winning through to the Round of 16, the latter of whom upset 23rd seed John Isner in five sets. Third seed Alexander Zverev and top seed Novak Djokovic also advanced, while Felix Auger-Aliassime and Diego Schwartzman rounded out the day’s winners.