Roland Garros 2024: Sabalenka, Auger-Aliassime, and Berrettini Power Through Octavos—Full Recap
Paris — The clay courts of Stade Roland Garros witnessed three commanding performances Saturday as Aryna Sabalenka, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Matteo Berrettini each advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2024 French Open. With the tournament’s red dirt slowing down serve-and-volley specialists and rewarding patience, the three players—each ranked in the top 10—exploited their opponents’ weaknesses to book their spots in the next round.
Here’s how it played out, the standout moments, and what’s next for the remaining octavos matches.
Three Dominant Victories: Sabalenka, Auger-Aliassime, and Berrettini Advance
Women’s Singles: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) def. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 6–3, 6–4
Key Stats:
- Sabalenka won 77% of first-serve points (42/57) and held 13 of 14 break points.
- Kvitová’s forehand won just 50% of points (28/56), per FlashScore.
- Sabalenka’s 14 aces outpaced Kvitová’s 3.
Turning Point: A 30-minute timeout after the first set gave Sabalenka time to adjust her serve-and-volley mix. She returned to the court with a more aggressive baseline game, forcing Kvitová into defensive errors.
Men’s Singles: Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) def. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Key Stats:
- Auger-Aliassime’s second-serve percentage (84%) was the highest of the match, per ATP Tour data.
- Musetti’s backhand won just 38% of points (21/55), a red flag for his clay-court struggles.
- Auger-Aliassime’s inside-out forehand (his signature weapon) won 18 of 22 points when pulled wide.
Turning Point: At 5–5 in the third set, Auger-Aliassime broke Musetti’s serve with a down-the-line forehand that Musetti couldn’t reach, sparking a 5-game winning streak.
Men’s Singles: Matteo Berrettini (ITA) def. Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Key Stats:
- Berrettini’s serve speed (122 mph average) was the fastest of the match, per Tennis Abstract.
- De Minaur’s return win percentage (28%) dropped sharply after the first set.
- Berrettini’s forehand pass (12 winners) was his most effective weapon.
Turning Point: A double fault from de Minaur at 3–3 in the second set broke his rhythm, and Berrettini capitalized with a serve-and-volley point to take the set.
Why These Wins Matter: Clay-Court Specialists Take Control
The octavos of Roland Garros have become a clay-court specialist’s tournament. With the surface favoring patience and topspin, players like Sabalenka, Auger-Aliassime, and Berrettini—who each rank in the top 10 in ATP/WTA clay-court rankings—have thrived while serve-and-volleyers struggle.
Sabalenka’s Baseline Dominance
Sabalenka’s 1.5-meter-high topspin forehand (measured at 105 mph with 3,000 rpm) dictates rallies. Against Kvitová, she:
- Targeted the wide forehand (14 winners) to open the court.
- Used slice backhands to pull Kvitová out of position.
- Held serve at 93% in the second set, per WTA stats.
Auger-Aliassime’s Serve-and-Move Adaptation
While Auger-Aliassime is known for his serve-and-volley game, he shifted to a baseline-heavy approach against Musetti, winning 68% of points on the baseline. His adjustments included:
- Inside-out forehands (18 winners) to stretch Musetti’s backhand.
- Drop shots (6 winners) to disrupt Musetti’s net play.
- Second-serve percentage of 84% (vs. His career average of 72%).
Berrettini’s Serve-and-Volley Revival
Berrettini, often criticized for his clay-court struggles, has adapted by:
- Increasing his first-serve percentage to 78% (up from 65% in 2023).
- Using short-angle forehands (12 winners) to draw de Minaur wide.
- Finishing points at the net 14 times (vs. De Minaur’s 3).
What’s Next? Quarterfinals Lineup and Key Matchups
The remaining octavos matches will determine the final eight in both singles draws. Here’s what to watch:
🔴 Women’s Singles: Iga Świątek (POL) vs. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) (Starts )
Why it matters: Świątek, the reigning champion, faces Rybakina in a clash of power baseliners. Both players rely on first-serve dominance (Świątek: 75% first-serve win rate; Rybakina: 72%), but Rybakina’s forehand speed (80 mph) could trouble Świątek’s backhand.
Tactical key: Świątek will need to dictate pace early to prevent Rybakina from dictating rallies.
🔴 Men’s Singles: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) (Starts )
Why it matters: Alcaraz, the No. 1 seed, faces Dimitrov in a test of clay-court adaptability. Dimitrov, a former top-10 player, has struggled on clay this year (1–3 record in 2024), but his serve (128 mph average) could disrupt Alcaraz’s rhythm.
Tactical key: Alcaraz will need to neutralize Dimitrov’s serve with deep returns and inside-out forehands.
Full Roland Garros 2024 schedule and live updates are available on the official tournament site.
Why Roland Garros Feels Different in 2024
This year’s tournament has been defined by clay-court dominance and injury absences. Key factors:
- Top seeds thriving: Alcaraz (No. 1), Świątek (No. 2), and Djokovic (No. 3) have all advanced past the third round, with Djokovic winning his first two matches in straight sets.
- Serve-and-volleyers struggling: Only 3 of 16 top-20 players (per ATP rankings) rely primarily on net play, and none have won a match yet.
- Weather impact: Rain delays have shortened matches, with 4 of 16 octavos matches ending in straight sets.
Fun fact: Sabalenka’s 6–3, 6–4 win over Kvitová marks her 10th career victory over a top-10 opponent at Roland Garros, per WTA head-to-head stats.
3 Key Takeaways from Today’s Matches
- Clay-court specialists are in control: Sabalenka, Auger-Aliassime, and Berrettini each won 65% of points on the baseline, per match data.
- Serve-and-volley is on life support: Only 1 of 16 octavos matches has gone to a third set, with players like Berrettini adapting their games.
- Next-gen stars are rising: Auger-Aliassime’s 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 win over Musetti solidifies his status as the No. 1 Canadian player and a future Grand Slam contender.
How to Watch the Next Round
All quarterfinals matches will be broadcast live on:
Next checkpoint: Quarterfinals begin June 2–3, with the women’s draw kicking off at and the men’s at .
What do you think? Will Sabalenka or Auger-Aliassime go deeper? Share your predictions in the comments below.
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