TUNISIA’S Ons Jabeur is through to the fourth round of the French Open after knocking out eighth seed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. The 30th seed reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, and could be in line to reach that feat again if she can overcome Danielle Collins in the Round of 16.

Jabeur won 7-6 2-6 6-3 to achieve a fourth round place for the first time in her career, taking just over two hours to win. While it might be her first Round of 16 on Tour, she did win the Junior French Open nine years ago and now has a big win to her name this year. Whilst she got the job done, Jabeur said it was far from easy.

“[It was a] tough, tough match. She really hits hard. She’s such an aggressive player. Actually she didn’t give me a lot of opportunities, especially in the second set,” Jabeur said post-match. “I mean, I was serving for the set, but I don’t know what happened in there. “Actually she was playing really good. “To be honest, I had no regrets losing that game. “But then I had to still do a lot of slices, drop shots, mix it up. I know that could bother her a lot. I’m so happy that that game really worked today.”

Now Jabeur takes on Collins, but could have a repeat of the Melbourne Park quarter final if she can get through that challenge and fourth seed, Sofia Kenin win her Round of 16 match. Collins had an upset of her own, winning in three sets against former Roland Garros champion, Garbine Muguruza in three sets, 7-5 2-6 6-4.

Collins took two hours and 28 minutes to win against the Spanish star, coming back from a double break in the decider to win and earn her place against Jabeur.

It was a lot easier for Kenin who destroyed Romanian qualifier, Irina Bara 6-2 6-0 after being broken early in the match. It was a completely one-sided contest after Bara won the first two games, with Kenin piling on 12 straight games to win in 72 minutes. Now she takes on French talent Fiona Ferro who defeated another Romanian in Patricia Maria Tig.

“She’s obviously a good clay-court player – she’s got a big forehand, big serve, she’s got great touch,” Kenin said of her prospective Ferro match. “She had a really good win a few days ago [over Elena] Rybakina and of course she’s using the crowd to help her, so I’ll just have to watch after this and then I’ll come up with a plan.”

In the bottom quarter of the draw, Petra Kvitova remains the sole seed after defeating Canadian teenager – and former Junior Roland Garros winner – Leylah Fernandez in straight sets. Kvitova won 7-5 6-3 to book her spot in the next round, preparing to take on Shuai Zhang who won against French wildcard Clara Burel, 7-6 7-5.

In the last fourth round match, Spaniard Paula Badosa will take on Laura Siegemund after a stunning upset over former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4 6-3. Much like Jabeur and Fernandez, Badosa is a junior champion in Paris, and now has reached her first ever fourth round on Tour. The rising star said the pressure on her career early was immense, but now she is ready to take the net step.

“When I was in juniors, there were a lot of expectations in my country, saying I need to be the next [Maria] Sharapova… and I wasn’t ready for that,” Badosa said post-match. “I had a very bad two, three years, but then I stopped myself and I tried to start from zero. I worked hard every day and I tried to have stability outside of tennis in terms of being happy. I’m very happy that now I can play my game, try to enjoy and have fun.

“Mentally, I had to do a lot of work to not listen to all the things and these expectations on me. I try to listen to my team every day, not look to forward, and go day-by-day now. “I think I’ve improved a lot mentally and physically. I work very hard and I think my tennis now is much better than a year ago. I’m playing more aggressive, more confident and I think I did a good step forward with that. Now, I believe more that I can win these matches, and I think that’s the big change and the key.”