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Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune, and Beatriz Haddad Maia recorded historic moments in the Round of 16 at Roland Garros.
The 2023 Roland Garros has had mixed reactions so far, with many pundits believing it hasn't been exciting and nerve-cracking on what is expected of a Grand Slam tournament.
However, amid the twists and turns, some players have risen to the occasion, writing their names in the history books and still matching on as the tournament reaches the quarterfinal stage.
Players such as Iga Swiatek, Holger Rune, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, have been exceptional in their Round of 16 matches.
According to Opta Ace, here are 5 historic moments in the Round of 16 matches at the 2023 Roland Garros.
1 - Brazillian history
Beatriz Haddad Maia is the second Brazilian female player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, after Maria Bueno did it 55 years ago (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open in 1968).
She won the third longest women's Singles main draw match in the Open Era at the Roland Garros (3 hours and 51 minutes), in her gruelling Round of 16 victory over Sorribes Tormo 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 to reach her first career Slam quarterfinal.
Only Buisson vs van Lottum in 1995 (4:07) and Reid vs Teeguarden in 1972 (3:55) were longer.
2 - African history
With victory over Bernarda Pera, Ons Jabeur became the first African player, male or female, to reach the quarterfinal stage at each of the four Grand Slams in the Open Era.
Jabeur completed the set with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Pera, becoming the first-ever Tunisian quarterfinalist. She will face Haddad Maia in the quarterfinal as both women chase another moment in history.
3 - Scandiavian history
Holger Rune won a tough five-set rollercoaster against Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 1-6 7-6(7).
By defeating Cerundolo, Rune has made a second Grand Slam quarterfinal before turning 21. The first male from Denmark to do so, and the last Scandinavian male to achieve this feat was Stefan Edberg in 1985.
4 - Teenage history
Coco Gauff returned to the Roland Garros quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Schmeidlova.
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By so doing, she became the youngest player to reach three consecutive quarterfinals in a single Grand Slam tournament (at the French Open between 2021 and 2023) since Maria Sharapova in Wimbledon between 2004 and 2006.
Gauff is also the first player to secure 15+ women's Singles main draw wins at the Roland Garros as a teenager since Martina Hingis in 1998.
5 - Most men's singles wins in the Round of 16
Novak Djokovic cruised past Juan Pablo Varillas in straight sets of 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach another Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The Serb now holds a record of 17-0 in the Round of 16 at Roland-Garros, surpassing Rafael Nadal for the most men's singles wins at this stage of the event in the Open Era.
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