PARIS (AP) – The Latest from the French Open:
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2:53 p.m.
Ana Ivanovic is hammering Elina Svitolina with her big forehands on the French Open’s center court.
After they traded breaks early on in extremely windy conditions, Ivanovic raced through the opening set of their quarterfinal in 39 minutes, securing another break in the fourth game. The 2008 champion sealed the set 6-3 by holding at love.
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2:34 p.m.
Of the 256 men and women who started the French Open, just 16 are left.
Most of the quarterfinalists are big names: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Serena Williams. Others could become big by upsetting the tennis hierarchy to reach and – why not? – even win the finals, almost within touching distance now this coming weekend.
Elina Svitolina is a young player to watch, on unfamiliar ground in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. The 20-year-old from Ukraine, ranked 21st, is out first on Court Philippe Chatrier against an already established star: 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic. The former No. 1 is again watched by her beau, soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger, a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany.
Against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori is looking to become the first Japanese man in 82 years to reach a French semifinal. They play after Svitolina vs. Ivanovic on the center court.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Garbine Muguruza has previously played in just one Grand Slam quarterfinal and Lucie Safarova has played two. Following them is a megastar for whom this is old hat: Federer. The winner of a record 17 major titles plays 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.
The first sets are underway.