The 19-year-old, who thrashed Romania’s top seed Simona Halep on Sunday to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, looked tight as she trailed 3-1 after a long wait to get on court
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It signalled the fact that his quest for a record-breaking 13th title has gathered momentum
The Greek fifth seed was solid on serve throughout and played neatly as his Bulgarian opponent lost focus at crucial times under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier.
On yet another chilly day in the French capital, seventh seed Kvitova’s superior firepower proved decisive as she posted her fourth successive straight sets victory.
The win helped him to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th time.
With the sun out and the wind up on Court Philippe Chatrier, it always looked like mission impossible for the 213th-ranked Korda, and so it proved in a one-sided fourth-round match.
The 30th seed displayed her trademark court craft to undermine Sabalenka’s power as she surpassed her previous best third round showing at Roland Garros in 2017.
The 39-year-old Williams, a three-time winner at Roland Garros, had arrived in Paris carrying an Achilles injury that prompted her to skip the Rome tune-up event.
The Belarussian, who moaned about the cold and damp conditions in her opening round win, capitulated in feeble fashion against her 161st-ranked opponent.
The American, who turned 39 this week, had been due to play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round later.
The Serb could not have started the match in a more convincing fashion as he bagelled his 22-year-old opponent in front of a sparse crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The top seed was in buoyant form as he secured a drama-free 6-0 6-2 6-3 victory over Mikael Ymer.
The last time they met on Court Philippe Chatrier, in the 2017 semi-final, Wawrinka came through a five-set slugfest.
But she still won 6-1 6-2 for a first round victory, in spite of the conditions and her complaints.
With a chill wind blowing and drizzle falling on the Simonne-Mathieu arena, the 40-year-old Williams began strongly but got bogged down in a baseline battle on a slow surface.
She has to resume her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on the claycourts at the French Open.
The French Open, traditionally held in May and June, was postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be held at Roland Garros from September 27 to October 11.
The changes have come as professional tennis gears up to emerge from the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
The US Open, scheduled to begin on August 31, will be the first Grand Slam to be played after the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season in March
French Open champion and former world number one Ashleigh Barty has been knocked out of the US Open thanks to a stunning performance from Wang Qiang.