Ons Jabeur celebrates after winning against Bernarda Pera at the end of their women's singles match at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Monday. AFP

Facing seventh-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, the unseeded American was broken eight times on Court Philippe Chatrier and lost 6-3, 6-1. Jabeur won 15 of 16 points on Pera’s second serve.

Jabeur, the runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, advanced to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the first time in her career.

In the men's draw, fourth-seeded Casper Ruud reached the quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5 win over Nicolas Jarry.

Ruud, the runner-up in Paris last year, delivered a solid display to counter his big-serving Chilean opponent, raising his game on important points in a tense encounter. Ruud saved 14 of 17 break points.

Ons Jabeur celebrates winning her fourth round match against Bernarda Pera. Reuters

Like Pera, Jabeur struggled with her serve but managed to save eight of the 12 break points she faced.

"She put a lot of pressure on my service," Jabeur said. "I'm pleased that I was able to win my service games when I needed to. ... Hopefully, I'll return well and serve better in my next match.”

Pera looked frustrated and tried to shorten rallies, but the strategy did not work. She ended up making 33 unforced errors in total.

Back from a calf injury that hampered her preparations for the tournament, Jabeur became the first Tunisian and Arab woman to progress that far at the French Open. She is the first African woman to reach the last eight at Roland Garros since South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer reached the semifinals in 1997.

Jabeur will next take on another first-time quarterfinalist in Paris - 14th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia, who prevailed over Sara Sorribes Tormo after a nearly four-hour marathon.

Agence France-Presse