Tamara Zidansek has rewritten history at the French Open by becoming the woman representing Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The world No.85 overcame a tricky opening set before defeating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 7-6(4), 6-1, who is ranked 31 places higher than her. During the 88-minute encounter Zidansek hit 20 winners against 19 unforced errors, as she broke her opponent three times in total. Continuing her fairytale in the French capital where she recorded her first ever win over a top 10 player in the first round by defeating Bianca Andreescu.
“I think that we both went into the match a little bit nervous, which is I guess normal,” Zidansek said following her latest win.
“It took me a couple of games to settle down. It was good that I got that first game on the scoreboard.
“I started serving better and better towards the end of the first set which also helped me to save that breakpoint, which was also a set point. From then on it was just in the tiebreak fighting for every point. Once I managed to get the tiebreak, I started feeling more comfortable out there.”
23-year-old Zidansek had never progressed beyond the second round of a Grand Slam or won a match at Roland Garros prior to this year. In fact, her four wins in Paris this year are more than she has ever won at all other majors combined (three). Although she has previously reached the final of two WTA events on the clay, including one this year in Bogota.
“I knew before the Roland Garros that I practiced really good. I’m in good shape. I had good opportunities to play a lot of matches, also against (Ash) Barty in Madrid. So that helped me a lot to get a confirmation that I can play well,” she reflected on her surge in success.
The achievement is a milestone victory for Slovenian tennis who currently has only two players in the top 100 on the WTA Tour. The other is world No.73 Polona Hercog, whilst Kaja Juvan is just outside in 101st spot. Zidansek hopes her run at the French Open will inspire others in her country which has a population of just over two million people.
“I’m getting a lot of messages that everyone is watching. It means a lot to me that I’m able to get across to the message to young people and everyone in Slovenia that we can do it,” she said.
“We’re a small country, we don’t have that many players, but we have good players.’
“I’m really happy I can get that across. I’m pretty sure it means a lot to them, as well.”
In the next round Zidansek will play either 2019 finalist Markéta Vondroušová or Spain’s Paula Badosa.
