French Open Shocker! Fourth and Sixth Seeds Fall Again, Gauff Out Deals Blow to USA, Wang Xiyu Chases Quarterfinals

As of May 31 Beijing time, the third round of the French Open women's singles saw multiple matches conclude, with upsets relentlessly unfolding, causing widespread concern. U.S. players endured heavy setbacks, losing back-to-back shockers. Sixth seed Anisimova was defeated 1-2 by home favorite Parry, and fourth seed and reigning champion Gauff succumbed 1-2 to Potapova, marking her third consecutive loss to that opponent.

Anisimova, an American tennis prodigy, had a breakout season last year, winning two WTA 1000 titles and one WTA 500 title, and reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open—though she fell short of the championship. She now sits firmly in the world's top ten. Entering this tournament as the sixth seed, she faced local player Parry in the third round. In the first set, Anisimova aggressively took an early 3-1 lead, but then suddenly collapsed, losing five straight games to fall 3-6. In the second set, she fought back, seizing key points late to take it 6-4, leveling the match at 1-1. The third set was a heated battle that went to a tiebreak, where Parry proved stronger, winning 7-6(?) to claim a 2-1 victory and advance to the round of 16. This marks Parry's first ever Grand Slam fourth-round appearance, a significant milestone in her career.

Gauff, the defending champion, won last year by defeating Sabalenka. As the fourth seed in this tournament, she has struggled with form this season, failing to capture any title. She advanced smoothly to the third round, where she faced Potapova, who had beaten her twice before. In the first set, Gauff faced stiff resistance but managed to break away after a 4-4 tie, winning two straight games to take it 6-4. The second set saw another tight contest that went to a tiebreak, where Potapova prevailed 7-6 to even the match. In the decisive set, Potapova's psychological edge and aggressive play gave her the upper hand. After a 4-4 deadlock, she won two consecutive games to claim the set 6-4, completing a 2-1 comeback upset. Gauff was sent packing, while Potapova stormed into the round of 16.

Chinese star Wang Xinyu is set to face Kostyia today in a battle for a quarterfinal spot. As the last remaining Chinese player and a dark horse in this tournament, Wang Xiyu (note: the original text says Wang Xiyu, but context suggests Wang Xinyu? Actually the original says "王曦雨" which is Wang Xiyu, but earlier it says "王欣瑜" which is Wang Xinyu. There's inconsistency. But to follow the original exactly, I'll keep as is: "Wang Xiyu") continues to push her own limits. This clash with Kostyia will undoubtedly be a high-pressure match. She just needs to give her best effort—go for it!

Written by Sports Novel