Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka was knocked out of the French Open by Jil Teichmann in a three-set third-round thriller at Roland Garros.
Switzerland’s Teichmann triumphed 4-6 7-5 7-6 (10-5) in a rollercoaster match that lasted three hours and 18 minutes.
Azarenka’s fellow former world number one Angelique Kerber also lost, beaten 6-4 7-6 (7-5) by Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and fellow teenager Coco Gauff reached the last 16 in Paris, as did Sloane Stephens.
Teichmann, 24, will next face Stephens after reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
She came from a set and a break down to outlast 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion Azarenka, 32, ultimately prevailing in a one-sided tie-break.
Stephens’ progress was far more serene as she ended the hopes of France’s Diane Parry 6-2 6-3.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Kerber, meanwhile, was upset by Emma Raducanu’s conqueror Sasnovich.
The 34-year-old German 21st seed lost 6-4 7-6 (7-5) while Gauff, 18, eased into the fourth round with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.
Kanepi was the oldest player remaining in the tournament and, at 36, is twice Gauff’s age.
“It’s crazy, she’s 36 – playing at this level. She’s still playing really well, good tennis,” Gauff said.
“If I still want to play (at 36), I hope I’m playing at that level. Nowadays it’s kind of rare – you see players finishing or playing their career on their own terms. I’m glad she’s able to play.”
Gauff will play Belgian 31st seed Elise Mertens next, while Sasnovich’s victory guarantees at least one unseeded quarter-finalist as she now faces Italy’s world number 59 Martina Trevisan, who saw off Daria Saville 6-3 6-4.
Earlier, 19-year-old Fernandez won a thrilling three-set encounter with Belinda Bencic 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5.
In the first match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier, US Open finalist Fernandez saved two set points at 5-4 down in the opening set before breaking serve and then winning the subsequent tie-break.
Switzerland’s Olympic champion Bencic levelled the match but Fernandez fought back from 2-0 and 40-0 down to take the decider.
Fernandez, 19, was broken by Bencic when she served for the match at 5-4 but immediately broke her opponent again and closed it out at the second attempt.
She will next face 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova, who progressed when an injured Karolina Muchova was forced to retire from their third-round match with the score 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 3-0.
The Czech Republic’s Muchova fell heavily on her right ankle at 2-2 in the second set and her discomfort was immediately clear, as she hid her face in a towel while receiving treatment during the changeover.
The 25-year-old had already had her thigh strapped in the opening set – which she won despite trailing 5-1 in the tie-break – and she needed additional heavy strapping on the injured ankle.
Her mobility was visibly restricted for the rest of the match and she was unable to win another game, eventually pulling out, in tears, at 3-0 down in the final set.
“It’s very tough and I feel really bad for her. She’s had a tough year with injuries,” said Anisimova, who in 2019 was the youngest American to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals since Jennifer Capriati in 1990.
