Russian teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva continued her giant-slaying exploits at the Dubai Tennis Championships by upsetting Kazakhstani sixth seed Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
The world number three has won eight out of her last nine matches on outdoor red clay, losing only to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final.
List of Wimbledon women's singles champions after Iga Swiatek beat Amanda Anisimova in the final on Saturday:
As the 2025 French Open looms, all eyes may be on reigning champions and top seeds - but lurking just beneath the surface are several players quietly building momentum, ready to crash the party in Paris. From seasoned champions finding renewed form to rising stars with something to prove, here are four dark horses who could shake up the women's singles draw at Roland Garros.
Belinda Bencic won two tiebreaks to beat teenage Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva
Novak Djokovic said a majority of players believe favouritism is at play in the tennis anti-doping system.
Struggling Swiatek will open her campaign against Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova.
Factbox on American second seed Coco Gauff, who defeated Belarusian world number one Aryna Sabalenka
Collins fired 32 winners and converted six of eight break points while Swiatek, who had won the tournament three times in the last four years, made 22 unforced errors.
The loss ends five-time major champion Swiatek's bid to become the first woman to win the tournament in the Southern California desert three times.
Twice champion Iga Swiatek walloped Czech Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the French Open played at Roland Garros, in Paris, France, on Sunday.
Sabalenka, who has never reached the final at Roland Garros, believes she is now better equipped both physically and mentally to challenge on clay, a surface she concedes took her years to master.
Coco Gauff was dumbstruck after beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final on Saturday
Defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz powered into the second round of the French Open on Monday.
Swiatek said she made far too many mistakes against Keys on Rod Laver Arena and hoped to draw lessons from it.
Polish world number two Iga Swiatek has been given extra security after a spectator at the Miami Open verbally abused the five-times major champion during a practice session last weekend, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Andreeva bids for Paris glory after stellar start to season
13 of the men's seeds fell at the first hurdle -- a Wimbledon record since 32 seeds were introduced in 2001.
Poland's Iga Swiatek will play in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga in November, where they face hosts Spain in the opening match, the world number two said on Tuesday
Significant pay hikes at the Grand Slams were central to the demands of the world's top players in their letter to the four majors recently.
Coco Gauff was given a solid workout by former champion Sofia Kenin but continued her lengthy winning streak
At an oven-like Centre Court where the temperature climbed to 30 degrees Celsius, Sabalenka twice rushed to the aid of ill fans by supplying bottles of cold water and an ice pack, before she cracked under pressure from her opponent in the 10th game.
Italian Cocciaretto stuns Pegula in big Wimbledon upset; Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen was beaten by Czech Katerina Siniakova.
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff resume their simmering rivalry on the pristine lawns of London.
Gauff seeks to eliminate service errors ahead of French Open tilt
Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Miami champion who arrived this year fresh off a run to the Indian Wells semi-finals, crashed out at the first hurdle as he fell 6-2, 6-3 to Spaniard Jaume Munar.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the most powerful player on the tour, will try to establish herself as an all-rounder with her first title in Paris.
It was the Latvian's first title on clay since her 2017 French Open Grand Slam victory.
'Novak is playing here, so it's easier. But Andy and Roger coming meant a lot to me because they represent a very important part of my tennis career.'
Madison Keys blasted her way into the Australian Open semi-finals for a third time as the American continues her bid for a first Grand Slam title.
Daniil Medvedev jumped for joy in an uncharacteristically emotional celebration after holding off young Frenchman Arthur Fils for a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(7) win amid gusting winds on centre court in quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, on Thursday.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek crushed Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2 and 2023 champion Elena Rybakina powered past Britain's Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells on Sunday in displays of dominance.
The free-swinging Monfils broke Draper's serve in the fourth set as the clock moved past 11pm local time and saved five break points in an epic seventh game to move 5-2 ahead.
The Pole accepted a one-month ban that ended on December 4 after accounting for time already served.
The Dutchman collapsed on the court after converting his sixth match-point to end an absorbing three hour, seven minute affair under sunny skies on Stadium One court.
Madison Keys said she would be wary about being too aggressive against Iga Swiatek.
Philippine wildcard Alexandra Eala pulled off the biggest win of her young career with a stunning upset of Polish world number two Iga Swiatek.
Czech reigning champion Marketa Vondrousova, seeded sixth and in the same quarter of the draw as Swiatek, will open against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
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