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| - French Open at a glance - day 8: + Federer pulls out + Serena knocked out by Rybakina + Medvedev to face Tsitsipas for semi-final spot + Zverev sets up Davidovich Fokina clash Elena Rybakina (KAZ x21) bt Serena Williams (USA x7) 6-3, 7-5 Daniil Medvedev (RUS x2) bt Cristian Garin (CHI x22) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x12) 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 Alexander Zverev (GER x6) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 Federer withdrew? 'Wow!' -- Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned to hear that Roger Federer had withdrawn from the French Open despite the Swiss star having made the third round. "My reaction is: Wow. I don't know what he had. I don't know whether that was an injury that had him out of the tournament or not. He was playing well. I felt like his body was there and he was able to play some good tennis, consistent. I'm surprised." Medvedev hopes for Paris romance -- For the first time since 1968 and the dawn of the professional era, no French player made the third round of the men's singles. Now Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev hopes the Paris crowd will take him to their hearts as an honorary Frenchman. "I hope the people that come on Tuesday think, 'He seems nice and he speaks French, so let's cheer him on'," said Medvedev who faces Stefanos Tsitsipas for a semi-final spot. Age concern? -- As proof of her longevity in the sport, when Serena Williams made her French Open in 1998 and made the fourth round, Elena Rybakina, her last-16 opponent on Sunday hadn't even been born. Rybakina was born just over a year later in June 1999. Small country, big dreams -- With a population of just over two million, French Open quarter-finalist Tamara Zidansek is happy to prove Slovenia can punch above its sporting weight. For example, last year Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France from compatriot Primoz Roglic. "Considering that we have only two million people, I'm really happy to be a part of the athletes that is doing this good," said Zidansek, the first Slovenian woman to make the last eight of a Slam. Just say 'non'! Paris not 'incroyable' for Azarenka -- Victoria Azarenka was not too impressed by what she claims is the reluctance of Roland Garros organisers to embrace change at the tournament. Last year, she was not amused by having to sit on a cold court while this year she said some courts were too wet for practice. "Everything you hear is 'pas possible'," said the former world number one. "Thank you Sir Andy, the feeling is mutual. You gotta love it. See you on the grass!" -- Roger Federer on Twitter after Andy Murray had described his performance to reach the fourth round as "inspirational". "After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it's important that I listen to my body and make sure I don't push myself too quickly on my road to recovery." -- Federer on his decision to withdraw from the French Open "I'm definitely not thinking about it at all. I'm thinking just about other things but not about that." -- Serena Williams after losing in the last 16 to Elena Rybakina on whether she has player her last French Open at the age of 39. "I'm kind of in the present, where before I was like, Oh, my God, quarter-final. Oh, what's happening?" -- Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on returning to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011 when she squandered a healthy lead to lose 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 to Francesca Schiavone. "Why would any tournament put Roger in a match with no fans at 10pm? Needs max rest time, biggest draw in the event... Odd." -- Former US player Mardy Fish tweeting his surprise that Federer played an evening session from which fans were barred due to a Covid-19 curfew. afp
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