Alabama Alum Alexa Guarachi Upsets World No. 1 Doubles Team to Advance to French Open Quarterfinals
10/4/2020 2:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Guarachi combined with Desirae Krawczyk to down Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová in straight sets
PARIS – University of Alabama alum Alexa Guarachi made history Sunday morning when she combined with Desirae Krawczyk to down the No. 1 doubles team in the world to advance to the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Guarachi and Krawczyk beat Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová, the No. 1 doubles tandem in the world and the Open's No. 1 seed, in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Guarachi's previous best showing in a Grand Slam came at the 2019 US Open, where she reached the third round.
"There was nothing to lose," Guarachi told reporters after the match. "We go out on the court to do our tennis, be aggressive and focus on ourselves, not on them. We knew they are a great team, and I feel like that was what we did best, being aggressive and not worrying about the rest."
The win not only marked the deepest that Guarachi, who has dual United States/Chilean citizenship and plays internationally for Chile, had ever advanced in the main draw of a Grand Slam, but it made her the first Chilean player to ever reach the quarterfinals of the French Open. She also became the first Chilean player to advance to the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam since the 1940s.
Guarachi and Krawczyk, seeded 14th at Roland Garros, are slated to take on No. 7 seeded Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara Tuesday, Oct. 6 in the quarterfinals.
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