It was a big day in the race to secure a spot in the Roland-Garros main draw
Thirty-two must be reduced to a sweet 16 - sixteen players who will play in the main draw at the second major of the season.
It's been another enthralling day of action in the women's qualifying at Roland-Garros 2024, with players vying for a chance to feature in third round rumbles on Thursday and Friday.
Here is the tale of the tape in Paris.
World No.89 Rebecca Sramkova continues to ride the crest of a wave after a standout showing in Rome.
The Slovakian moved towards the last qualifying hurdle with a gutsy 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory against Czech youngster Linda Fruhvirtova.
Rewind to Rome earlier this month and the 27-year-old qualified for the main draw, defeated top 30 talent Katie Boulter, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, then pushed Roland-Garros 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko to a third set tie-break in the last 16.
As a reward, Sramkova cracked the top 100 for the first time. It’s a ranking she wants to maintain, the taste of the top is too good to let slip.
"I was finding my best, but then I got sick for three days after and couldn’t move, couldn’t practice. It's been really tough getting back to this shape. Now I feel pretty good, confident and I hope this will take me another round," said the driven Sramkova.
"It's amazing to live the life of a top 100 player, to be someone. My coach is confident in me as a player and a person and that was why I could rise.
"To be up there with the great players, to get consistent good results, to hopefully win some titles. I don't want to go down. "
The career-high world No.89 feels she's "grown up" since a round one showing in the RG2022 main draw. Another shot at the big time in Paris is now within reach.
"I play Panna Udvardy, I know her very well from the ITF Tour. It will be hard of course, it's such a chance," added Sramkova. "Roland-Garros for me is favourite for me, of course I watched it all on the TV when I was little."
Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean relishes the home support, which has driven her to third round and second round main draw appearances in the past two trips to Roland-Garros.
The world No.143 dispatched No.18 seed Darja Semenistaja 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a final clash with American Robin Montgomery.
"I started the match very well. Then there was a bit of a letdown in the second set with the (rain) interruptions. It was hard to get myself going again," admitted Jeanjean. "She also changed her tactics and played better. But any win is good to take. Physically, I'm feeling pretty good. We're lucky to have a great crowd, and I hope they'll still be there for the next game."
Teenager Montgomery is one step away from her first Grand Slam main draw outside her home major, the US Open. The 19-year-old denied Czech teenager Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3, 7-6(5).
Meanwhile, No.2 seed Julia Riera continued to soar towards the main draw with a 6-3, 6-2 passage past France's Harmony Tan.
The Argentine must overcome Philippine prodigy Alexandra Eala. The 18-year-old fought back 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to halt 30th seed Taylah Preston.
The 2021 semi-finalist Tamara Zidansek came from a set down to edge Noma Noha Akugue and will meet No.6 seed Hayley Baptiste on Thursday.
Jil Teichmann's rebuilding process continued in a positive manner. The former world No.21 booked a third-round shootout with Spain's Irene Burillo Escorihuela courtesy of a 6-4, 6-3 victory over China's Wei Sijia.
No.5 seed Jule Niemeier has lost just seven games through the first two rounds in Paris. The powerful German has No.32 seed Dalma Galfi in her path in the third round.
2012 runner up Sara Errani had too much craft for French wild card Alice Tubello in a 6-2, 6-1 triumph on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
"Today was very different (from the first round), add in the rain, the roof, it was very humid, so it was very tough for me to play in these conditions," stated the former world No.5, who takes on Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse next.
"The score looks easy. It wasn't easy at all. I didn't feel very good, I couldn't find my game, but the important thing is to win, so I'm happy, of course."
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
