Sabalenka faces Svitolina next, boycotts media

PARIS, France – Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus moved into a politically-charged French Open quarterfinal with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina on Sunday and immediately set the tone for the high-profile confrontation by boycotting Roland Garros media for a second time.

Australian Open champion and world number two Sabalenka defeated Sloane Stephens, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, to reach the last eight in Paris for the first time.

Tuesday’s clash will be the third meeting between Sabalenka and Svitolina but first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow.

Svitolina has played two Russians so far at the tournament and refused to shake hands with both in protest at the war.

Sabalenka defeated Svitolina’s Ukrainian compatriot Marta Kostyuk in the opening round last weekend.

Kostyuk’s decision also not to shake hands brought her a chorus of boos from the Paris crowd. Kostyuk said the spectators who jeered her should be “embarrassed.”

Novak Djokovic swept into the quarterfinals for the 14th straight year on Sunday as world number one Carlos Alcaraz breezed past Lorenzo Musetti to stay on a collision course with the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

Third seed Djokovic ended the surprise run of Peruvian outsider Juan Pablo Varillas, winning, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, and has yet to drop a set through four matches. Alcaraz looked every part the tournament favorite as he dismantled the talented Musetti in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.