<p>Tamara Zidansek on Sunday became the first woman from Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam when she defeated Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the French Open.</p>.<p>World number 85 Zidansek won 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 and will face either 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic or in-form Paula Badosa of Spain for a place in the semi-finals.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old had never previously got beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.</p>.<p>However, she illustrated her potential by knocking out sixth-seeded former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu in the first round where she had twice been just two points from defeat.</p>.<p>"For me, the key was to start to really believe that I can beat the top players, to believe that I am better than them and that I belong there," said the Slovenian.</p>.<p>Zidansek, a keen snowboarder in her winter off-time, finished runner-up on clay in Bogota in April.</p>.<p>However, before seeing off Andreescu in the first round in Paris, she had never defeated a top 10 player.</p>.<p>In a women's draw thrown wide open by the early exits of top three seeds Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, the opportunities exist for a shock champion to emerge. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Tamara Zidansek on Sunday became the first woman from Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam when she defeated Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the French Open.</p>.<p>World number 85 Zidansek won 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 and will face either 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic or in-form Paula Badosa of Spain for a place in the semi-finals.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old had never previously got beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.</p>.<p>However, she illustrated her potential by knocking out sixth-seeded former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu in the first round where she had twice been just two points from defeat.</p>.<p>"For me, the key was to start to really believe that I can beat the top players, to believe that I am better than them and that I belong there," said the Slovenian.</p>.<p>Zidansek, a keen snowboarder in her winter off-time, finished runner-up on clay in Bogota in April.</p>.<p>However, before seeing off Andreescu in the first round in Paris, she had never defeated a top 10 player.</p>.<p>In a women's draw thrown wide open by the early exits of top three seeds Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka, the opportunities exist for a shock champion to emerge. <br /><br /></p>