Matteo Berrettni has become the lowest-ranked player to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open since 2007 as the clay-court grand slam continues to dish up unexpected results. Diana Shnaider and Maja Chwalinska both reached their first-ever grand slam quarter-final, while 2025 Australian Open champ Madison Keys became another big-name casulaty.
But the biggest story of Monday’s play was the stunning resurgence of former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini. A former World No.6, Berrettini is currently way down at World No.105 due to persistent injuries.
Aryna Sabalenka (L) advanced as Madison Keys lost (centre) and Matteo Berrettini (R) made French Open history. Image: Getty
But he reached his first major quarter-final in four years on Monday after beating Jannik Sinner’s conqueror Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 (2) 7-6 (8-6). In doing so he became the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist at Roland Garros since Igor Andreev in 2007.
“This is the love of my life, I guess, otherwise I wouldn’t keep coming back after all the setbacks, the injuries,” said Berrettini, who is playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2021. The Italian is one of only two grand slam finalists left in a wide-open men’s draw – along with Alexander Zverev – after surprise early exits for Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
Matteo Berrettini has reached his first grand slam quarter-final in four years.
(Jean Catuffe via Getty Images)
It means a first-time grand slam winner is set to be crowned. Berrettini will next face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who staged a dramatic comeback to beat Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (5) 6-7 (5) 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-4 after 5 hours and 26 minutes.
Aus Open champ out, two first-time quarter-finalists
On the women’s side, World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her charge with a 7-5 6-3 win over four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka. It appears to be Sabalenka’s title to lose with no former French Open champions remaining in the draw.
Shnaider battled past 2025 Australian Open champion Keys 6-3 3-6 6-0. Keys became the latest grand slam champ to crash out before the quarters, joining the likes of Sinner, Djokovic, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
Chwalinska won 6-3 6-2 over Diane Parry, while Anna Kalinskaya beat Anastasia Potapova 6-4 2-6 7-6 (10-7). Schnaider and Chwalinska had never reached the quarters of a grand slam before, while Kalinskaya has only done it once – at the Australian Open in 2024.
Maja Chwalinska has reached her first-ever grand slam quarter-final.
(Eurasia Sport Images via Getty Images)
Schnaider’s reward is a match-up with four-time major champion Sabalenka. Chwalinska – ranked 114th in the world – is the first qualifier to reach the women’s French Open quarters since 2020.
It’s been a tournament of carnage for big-name players and top seeds. Only five of the world’s top 20 players made it past the fourth round – Sabalenka (1), Elina Svitolina (7) and Mirra Andreeva (8) in the women’s draw, and Zverev (3) and Felix Auger Aliassime (6) in the men’s.