Roland-Garros: Diane Parry stuns world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova to reach first Grand Slam fourth round
French wildcard Diane Parry, ranked 92nd, delivered a career-defining performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, defeating world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova in a dramatic super tie-break to advance to the fourth round of Roland-Garros.
A breakthrough on the Parisian clay
Diane Parry, the last Frenchwoman standing in the Roland-Garros singles draw, produced the biggest win of her career on Saturday, eliminating world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10-3) in a grueling 2-hour-44-minute battle. The 23-year-old from Nice, currently ranked 92nd in the world, had never before reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament. Her previous best runs had ended five times at the third-round stage, including at Roland-Garros four years ago.
Anisimova, a two-time Grand Slam finalist last year at Wimbledon and the US Open, was playing her first clay-court tournament of the season after recovering from a left wrist injury. The American committed 56 unforced errors during the match, a tally that Parry exploited with remarkable composure, particularly in the decisive moments of the final set.
I'm so happy to have been able to experience this match in this atmosphere, you were exceptional!
A rollercoaster on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Playing under scorching conditions with temperatures around 35°C in the shade, Parry was broken in the opening game but immediately struck back to level at 3-3. She then broke Anisimova's serve in the eighth game and served out the first set confidently. The momentum shifted in the second set when Anisimova opened a 4-2 lead. Parry fought back to 4-4, only to drop her serve two games later and concede the set.
The deciding set was a tense affair. Parry missed four break points before finally converting one to lead 4-3. Anisimova, however, broke back immediately after squandering four break opportunities of her own. The match ultimately hinged on the super tie-break, where Parry seized control by winning seven consecutive points, while Anisimova crumbled under pressure with multiple double faults, handing the Frenchwoman a 10-3 victory.
- Anisimova breaks Parry in opening game; Parry breaks back to 3-3.
- Parry breaks in eighth game and serves out first set 6-3.
- Anisimova leads 4-2 in second set; Parry levels at 4-4 but drops serve, loses set 4-6.
- Parry breaks for 4-3 in third set; Anisimova breaks back immediately to 4-4.
- Super tie-break: Parry wins seven consecutive points, wins 10-3 after 2h44.
A football-flavored celebration
The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier added a unique flavor to the occasion, serenading Parry with football-style chants of "Ici, c'est Parry" just hours before the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, taking place nearby at the Parc des Princes. Parry, a self-confessed PSG supporter, embraced the atmosphere and joked about the double-header of sporting drama.
It was a big day, between my match and the PSG final waiting for us later. I hope to make it 2 out of 2!
Parry was also scheduled to play a doubles match later on Saturday alongside compatriot Fiona Ferro, capping an extraordinarily busy and successful day for the Frenchwoman.
What lies ahead
Parry's reward is a fourth-round meeting on Monday with Poland's Maja Chwalinska, ranked 114th and a qualifier, who herself caused an upset by defeating Greece's Maria Sakkari in three sets. The draw has opened up significantly for Parry, who has now claimed back-to-back wins over top-60 and top-30 opponents before toppling the sixth seed. Her only previous victory over a top-10 player came at the 2022 edition of Roland-Garros, when she stunned defending champion and then-world No. 2 Barbora Krejcikova in the first round.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, an enticing fourth-round clash was set between Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka. Sabalenka cruised past Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 in just 76 minutes, while Osaka outlasted Iva Jovic in three tight sets to reach her first Roland-Garros fourth round. Sabalenka has won both of their meetings this season, at Indian Wells and Madrid.
