Tamara Zidansek became the first Slovenian woman to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam on Sunday, defeating unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea 7-6(4) 6-1 at the French Open.
The duo swapped breaks in the first two games of a tight first set on court. Suzanne Lenglen but Zidansek increased her level in the tiebreak to seize the match lead when an error-prone Cirstea fired a wild forehand wide.
History made 🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮
Tamara Zidansek becomes the first women from Slovenia to make the final 8 at a Grand Slam. The world No.85 charges past Sorana Cirstea in straight-sets 7-6(4), 6-1. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/A3xQqVLpG8
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2021
Before this year’s event in Paris, world number 85, Zidansek had never advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam, yet it was 2009 Roland Garros quarter-finalist Cirstea who exhibited indications of anxiety at the start of the second set.
As Cirstea struggled to move freely due to an ankle injury, the 23-year-old Zidansek grew more aggressive and surged up 5-0 before winning in 86th minutes. In the last eight, Zidansek will face either 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova or Spain’s Paula Badosa.
Zidansek, who enjoys snowboarding in her spare time, finished runner-up on clay in Bogota in April. However, prior to defeating Andreescu in the first round of the Paris Masters, she had never beat a top ten player.
