Unseeded Zidansek into first Grand Slam quarters | Daily News

Unseeded Zidansek into first Grand Slam quarters

Tamara Zidansek plays a shot
Tamara Zidansek plays a shot

Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek is the first player to reach the French Open quarter-finals, beating Romania's Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 in Roland Garros yesterday.

Unseeded Zidansek, 23, reaches a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time, and had never previously been beyond the first-round in Paris.

The world number 85 saved a set point in a tight first set before dominating Cirstea, ranked world number 54.

"I came out on court prepared and it was a battle," she said on court.

Zidansek, will play the winner of the match between 2019 finalist Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, and Spain's Paula Badosa.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer reached the last-16 of the French Open but needed all of his fighting qualities to scrap his way past Germany's Dominik Koepfer on an empty and eerie Court Philippe Chatrier in Saturday's night match.

The 39-year-old 20-time Grand Slam champion was ragged at times and lacked his usual zip against the tenacious Koepfer but the eighth seed slogged his way to a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory at about 1.00 a.m local time. (Agencies)