French Open: Elina Svitolina beats 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini and will face Iga Swiatek next

PARIS (AP) — Elina Svitolina saved three match points and came back to eliminate 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1 on Sunday, earning her fifth French Open quarterfinal appearance.

The 13th-seeded Svitolina, who is from Ukraine, is a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist — getting that far twice at Wimbledon and once at the U.S. Open — but is 0-4 so far in the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros.

“Last few months have been really, really tough for the Ukrainian people, and last few weeks have been awful, as well,” Svitolina said. “It’s something that all Ukrainians live on a daily basis with — with the bad news. So when I’m on the court, I’m fully focused on my job, on my tennis, and try to get these wins, try to keep Ukrainian flag flying for my country.

"That’s what motivates me to keep pushing, to keep winning, to keep playing tennis, in general.”

She'll try to go a step further Tuesday, when she will face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek, who trailed by a set and a break before defeating 2022 Wimbledon champion Elina Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 at Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The other quarterfinal on the top half of the women's bracket will be No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against No. 8 Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, a three-time major champ, used a five-game run to take control from 5-all in the first set and beat No. 16 Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. 7-5, 6-3, while 2024 Olympic gold medalist Zheng was a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 winner over No. 19 Liudmila Samsonova.

The No. 4-seeded Paolini entered Sunday on a career-best nine-match winning streak, including a run to the title on red clay at the Italian Open.

A year ago, she reached her first major final at the French Open, losing to Swiatek, then also made it to the championship match at Wimbledon, where she lost to Barbora Krejcikova.

Against Svitolina, Paolini served for the victory while leading by a set and a break at 5-3 in the second. But the Italian got broken at 15 there. She then held her first two match points while ahead 5-4, 15-40 as Svitolina served.

Paolini missed a forehand on the initial chance to end things and a backhand on the next.

In the ensuing tiebreaker, Paolini again was a single point from winning — and again failed to come through, this time when Svitolina ended a 14-stroke exchange with a volley winner.

From there, Svitolina was in control, racing to a 4-0 lead in the third set. She is quite comfortable on clay, where she has earned a tour-leading 16 of her 27 wins this season.

Svitolina also defeated Paolini at the Australian Open in January.

Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe reached their first French Open quarterfinals and gave the United States two men in that round in Paris for the first time since 1996. Not even one man from the country had reached the final eight since Andre Agassi in 2003. No. 12 seed Paul beat No. 25 Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, and No. 15 Tiafoe defeated Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Paul now meets No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion. Alcaraz defeated No. 13 Ben Shelton of the U.S. 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Tiafoe's next opponent will be No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti, who won 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 against No. 10 Holger Rune in a match that ended after midnight.

The fourth round is scheduled to conclude on Day 9, with No. 1 Jannik Sinner against No. No. 17 Andrey Rublev, 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic against Cam Norrie among the men's matches, and four U.S. women in action: No. 2 Coco Gauff vs. No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, No. 3 Jessica Pegula vs. Lois Boisson of France, and No. 7 Madison Keys vs. Hailey Baptiste in an all-American matchup.

Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. celebrates beating Germany's Daniel Altmaier during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Tommy Paul of the U.S. reacts after beating Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates beating Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates beating Russia's Liudmila Samsonova during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after beating Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Tommy Paul of the U.S. reacts after beating Australia's Alexei Popyrin during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Italy's Jasmine Paolini hits a forehand against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina celebrates beating Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina reacts winning a point to Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their fourth round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday, June 1 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama was battling a virus, rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter and does not believe he is playing his best. All of which made the San Antonio Spurs star's historic outing against the Dallas Mavericks even more astounding.

After establishing a league milestone in the first half, Wembanyama finished with career highs of 52 points and 24 rebounds along with eight blocks to lead the Spurs past the Mavericks 112-111 on Wednesday night.

Wembanyama had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in the first half to become the first player since the NBA’s play-by-play era began in 1996-97 with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a half.

He's the first player to reach 50 points and 20 rebounds in a one-point win since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.

“He’s Superman,” Spurs point guard Dylan Harper said. “I mean, he rolls his ankle and pops right up and acts like nothing happened. I’ve never seen nothing like that, but that’s just a testament to how he takes care of his body, how he focuses on his mobility, treatment, all that. So he’s able to do things like that.”

San Antonio was plus-23 when Wembanyama was on the court. The 7-foot-4 center from France was 16 for 28 from the field, including seven dunks, but 1 for 8 on 3-pointers.

“I can still do more,” Wembanyama said. “I mean, my shots weren’t falling tonight and that forces me into a style of play that is exhausting. I can do it. I mean the proof is here. I can do it, but I can be much better if my shots fall. I know it’s just a matter of time.”

Still, three days after being named the Western Conference Player of the Week, Wembanyama presented a strong case for a repeat.

“I hope so,” Wembanyama said. “The goal is to get it every week.”

The Spurs have won six straight and swept a three-game homestand. San Antonio has not lost since dropping the season's first two games to Oklahoma City and Houston.

Wembanyama has averaged 32.5 points during the streak despite being under the weather with a virus.

“I haven’t been feeling great lately,” Wembanyama said. “I’ve been sick for a while and today I felt like I got my legs back. So it should be more like this, more often.”

He certainly looked spry to open the game.

Wembanyama scored 10 of San Antonio's first 12 points, powering down two dunks and draining all six free-throw attempts. He closed the first quarter with 15 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.

After capturing his ninth rebound, Wembanyama dribbled behind his back at Dallas’ 3-point line to avoid Walter Clayton Jr., drove between two defenders for a one-handed dunk and then stood in the paint screaming in celebration.

“He was making an impact for his team," said Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who missed a 15-footer with three seconds remaining. "You can see his aggression has been raising over the past few games.”

The onslaught continued in the second quarter.

Wembanyama had three blocks in 13 seconds on the same possession, sending shots by Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington flying out of bounds before his third was captured by De’Aaron Fox with 3:38 remaining in the first half.

Wembanyama rolled his ankle after stepping on Clayton's foot, exiting with 9:11 remaining in the game. He spent the next several minutes stretching his foot and ankle on the bench before returning with 6:05 remaining.

“I mean the moment that stands out for some reason. I don’t have any agenda I want to say, but it’s when I rolled my ankle,” Wembanyama said.

The Spurs certainly needed their All-Star in the final minutes.

Wembanyama had two putbacks in the final 2:39. He missed his first three free throws in the final 2:10, but made one with 24 seconds left for the final margin of victory.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford (21) and Caleb Martin during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)