World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her pursuit of a first French Open title by easing past Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 in the French Open third round on Saturday.
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The Belarusian top seed ripped through the first set in 29 minutes.
Sabalenka let her momentum drift at the start of the second set as two unforced errors and a double fault allowed Kasatkina to break in the opening game. The Australian then held to love as Sabalenka continued to miss.
The Belarusian took the next three games but faced greater resistance from Kasatkina.
At 6-5, with Kasatkina serving, Sabalenka reasserted her control. She raced to three match points and converted the second to win in one hour and 17 minutes, and become the ninth woman to win 100 matches while ranked No.1.
100 wins as World No.1 ✅#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ZLykgf06U3
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2026
"I was happy in the tough moments I never gave up," she said.
She said that while she would have been happy to cruise through the first week of a major with easy wins, Kasatkina's resistence could be beneficial.
"Good to be tested, like to feel the fight like activate this fight mode, to feel the pressure a little bit. I feel like it's a good preparation for the second week," she explained.
In the round of 16, Sabalenka will face fellow four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
A second Grand Slam meeting awaits ⚡️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/afmNO2PWAO
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2026
Osaka won their only meeting at a major, at the same stage in the 2018 US Open, a tournament the Japanese star went on to win for the first of her four majors.
Since then they had not met again until two encounters this season -- both won by Sabalenka at Indian Wells and Madrid.
"It's great, great to see her back on her level. Maybe not at her best level, but she's back, she's fighting, she's building her level," said Sabalenka.
"I'm just ready for the fight. I'm ready to go out there to fight for that match, for that win. Ready to do anything it takes to get the win."
The world No.1 is staying cool ahead of her fourth round clash with Naomi Osaka 🍦#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/xDPLWMJC19
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2026
OSAKA SURVIVES SCARE
Former world number one Osaka dazzled with an all-gold outfit but had to dig deep for a hard-fought 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic on Saturday to reach the fourth round for the first time.
Playing in a gold sequined top and skirt - her latest fashion statement in Paris - the four-time Grand Slam champion found it hard going from the start, with the American teenager's brutal shot-making dulling her opponent's sparkle.
The Japanese 16th seed, however, kept her composure to avoid a third-set tiebreak as she sealed victory.
"I think I'm just a lot calmer now," Osaka told a press conference after setting up a last-16 showdown with top seed Sabalenka.
"I feel like in the previous years I just wanted it so much and now, obviously I do want it, but I accept that it's a process, and maybe it will eventually come and maybe it won't. I just have to enjoy it while it lasts."
Osaka, who has turned heads once more with a variety of haute couture-inspired outfits for her matches in Paris, initially looked surprised by the teenager's precision and power.
The 18-year-old Jovic looked completely at ease on Court Suzanne Lenglen despite her lack of big-stage experience as she pushed Osaka to a first-set tiebreak.
Osaka had wasted two set points at 6-5 and needed three more before subduing the American 7-5 in the tiebreak.
It was a similar story in the second set, with a break apiece and Jovic winning the second tiebreak to level.
The third set was again on a razor's edge, with Jovic refusing to buckle and matching Osaka's power blow for blow. But the Japanese carved out a match point at 5-4 on the American's serve and converted it to move into the next round.
"She was pretty aggressive. You just have to account for it. You can't necessarily let it stress you out. You just have to keep going," Osaka said.
"I think younger players are some of the scariest players to play because they have no fear.
"I just hoped that my veteran status could shine a little bit in some moments, and I think it did."
PARRY STUNS ANISIMOVA
Diane Parry, the last Frenchwoman standing in the women's draw, pulled off a stunning 6-3 4-6 7-6(3) victory over American Amanda Anisimova, advancing to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
The 23-year-old, ranked 92nd in the world, delighted the home crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier as she eliminated Anisimova, the sixth seed and a two-time major finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025, as well as a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2019.
The Frenchwoman endured a shaky start, falling 3-1 behind in the opening set, but stormed back with five successive games to claim it on her third set point.
Anisimova, however, found her footing in the second set, breaking Parry at a critical stage to force a deciding set.
The third set unfolded in dramatic fashion as Parry broke to lead 4-3, only for the American to immediately break back, amplifying the tension.
It was in the decisive tiebreak where Parry showed her mettle, taking control early and clinching victory on her first match point after two hours and 44 minutes.
Parry, who is a fan of soccer side Paris St Germain, was relieved to finish her third round before the team's Champions League final against Arsenal.
"So happy I have experienced this match in this atmosphere, you were exceptional. It was a big day with my match and PSG's final awaiting us," Parry said on court.
With her second career victory over a top-10 player, Parry ensured a local representation in the second week of the French Open women's draw for the third straight tournament.
She will face Poland's Maja Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, in the fourth round.
Chwalinska, on her maiden appearance at the French Open, has been the surprise package of the tournament with a remarkable run to the last 16.