Roland-Garros: Former runner-up Pavlyuchenkova through to last 16, meets Mertens next

The Russian defeated 24th seed Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Friday

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at 2023 Roland-Garros

Virginie Bouyer/ Mouratoglou Academy

Tennis Majors

June 2, 2023

French Open 2023 Women's Singles •Third round • completed

See draw

A. PavlyuchenkovavsA. Potapova

Former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova moved into the last 16 of Roland-Garros by winning against No 24 seed Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in Paris on Friday.

Pavlyuchenkova, ranked No 333 in the world after missing more than six months of the second half of 2022, will play Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 28 seed, next.

The comeback continues 🙌@NastiaPav is through to the fourth round defeating Potapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Next up, Mertens.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/trAPl2Xqka
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2023

The Russian, who lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the 2021 final, beat Czech Linda Fruhvirtova (6-2, 6-2) and edged out No 15 seed Liudmila Samsonova (4-6, 7-5, 7-5) earlier in the week.

This is the 10th time that Pavlycuhenkova, who is currently being coached by Frenchman Pierre Debrosse, has moved into the second week at a Grand Slam, the third at Roland-Garros. The win moves her back into the top 160 in the live WTA rankings.

In the previous rounds, Potapova, ranked No 25, defeated American qualifier Taylor Townsend (6-1, 6-2) and Egyptian Mayar Sherif (3-6, 6-4, 6-1).

Roland-Garros (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 49,600,000)