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Amanda Anisimova of the United States celebrates her quarterfinal win against Romania's Simona Halep. (Christophe Ena / AP)
Liz Clarke
Sports journalist specializing in tennis and the Olympics
PARIS – A 17-year-old American, with a huge game and a scare of zero, has ousted defending Roland-Garros champion Roland Garros Simona Halep in straight sets on Thursday at Roland Garros.
Amanda Anisimova, born in New Jersey, needed only 68 minutes to frustrate Halep, 6-2, 6-4, and win a semifinal spot on Friday. She will face Australia's eighth-seeded Ashleigh Barty, who sent American Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5 a few minutes later, Suzanne Lenglen.
Anisimova has never played on the circuit of the showcase of the French Open, Stade Philippe Chatrier, with a capacity of 15 000 seats, nor reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament. Nevertheless, during her first encounter with Halep, a former world No. 1, the American was a portrait of power, confidence and efficiency.
Anisimova participated in the Women's French Open Junior tournament just two years ago.
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There was a crowd unfortunately scattered on the spot to witness the greatest victory of his young career.
Wednesday's rain, in which no main draw match was played, caused a tie-off on Thursday and forced officials to advance the start of the two-hour games.
Halep and Anisimova, dressed in identical Nike tops and skirts, arrived at Chatrier at noon. With each one tying his long hair in a bun that pushed to the top of a visor, only their height difference of 5 inches made it easy to distinguish them. Halep measures 5 feet 6 inches; Anisimova, 5-11.
Later Thursday, the world No. 1, Novak Djokovic, will try to qualify for the semi-finals by facing the German Alexander Zverev, ranked fifth.
The other quarter-final of the men delayed by the rain will oppose Dominic Thiem to the Russian Karen Khachanov.
The advancing men face a difficult chore, with the prospect of playing three games in the best of five rounds in four days. They will play the semi-finals on Friday, while the two other semi-finalists, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, will have two days off.
Unless there are rain delays, the men's final will be held on Sunday.
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