Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen battles into French Open quarterfinals

Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen advanced to the French Open quarterfinals, following a hard-fought three-sets victory over Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova on Sunday.  

The reigning Olympic gold medalist extended her winning streak at Roland-Garros to 10 matches, winning 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. 

Zheng said she does not feel like a defending champion, despite topping the Olympic podium at the same venue last summer.  

"It's different, because (in a) Grand Slam, we need to play seven matches, and the Olympic Games is six matches to get a gold medal," she said. "I really don't consider myself as defending champion. Right now, even though I'm in (the) quarterfinal, I think I'm still a bit far, and I just want to stay calm and fight every single match. Forget what happened last year, but just fight at this moment in Roland-Garros."  

Zheng will continue her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Amanda Anisimova.  

The Belarusian battled through a tight opening set against the 16th-seeded American, and then needed eight match points to clinch a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen.  

Zheng beat Sabalenka for the first time in their seven head-to-head meetings in the Italian Open quarterfinals, in the build-up to Roland-Garros.  

"She's a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle, and I'm super excited to face her in the quarterfinals, and I want to get my revenge," said Sabalenka. "I want to get this win after Rome, so I'm happy to face her in the quarters."  

Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland also reached the quarterfinals, battling back from a set and break down to eventually defeat former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 29 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.  

Swiatek will next face Elina Svitolina for a spot in the semifinals, after the Ukrainian earlier saved three match points to eliminate last year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini of Italy.  

The 24-year-old is looking to become the first woman to win four straight French Open titles since the legendary Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago.  

But Swiatek has not managed to reach a final since lifting the trophy in Paris last June.