PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Maria Sakkari of Greece hits a forehand during her Ladies Singles Quarter-Final match against Iga Swiatek of Poland on Day Eleven of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2021 in Paris, France.

Sakkari eliminates defending French Open champ Swiatek

5 years ago
Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Maria Sakkari powered past defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to reach the French Open semifinals for the first time.

The 17th-seeded Greek player said: “I'm speechless. It's a dream coming true."

Sakkari had never progressed past the fourth round at any major tournament before starting her Roland Garros campaign.

She returned extremely well on Court Philippe Chatrier and hurt her rival by taking risks.

Swiatek entered the match having not lost a set in the tournament. She asked for a medical timeout after going down 2-0 in the second set and returned to the court with her right thigh bandaged.

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