Although Gisela Dulko missed the birth of her brother's twins because of the French Open, her sacrifice was rewarded Friday.
The 51st-ranked Argentine upset 2010 French Open finalist Sam Stosur 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 on center court to reach the fourth round and match her best result at the clay-court Grand Slam.
''Yesterday night I stayed awake really late,'' said the 26-year-old Dulko, who became an aunt Thursday after her brother Alejandro became the father of a boy and a girl. ''It was very emotional, because I would have loved to be there (in Buenos Aires), but I'm here.''
As soon as she finished off Stosur on Court Philippe Chatrier, Dulko brandished a towel reading in Spanish ''for Myla And Teo. It was worth it. I love them.''
''It meant a lot in terms of emotions, because I'm very sensitive, or sensible, and the fact that I could not be with my nephews in Buenos Aires was very important,'' Dulko said. ''But as I wrote it on the towel, it was worth it.''
On Friday, Dulko had and up-and-down match against her eighth-seeded opponent.
After winning the first set, she let Stosur back in the match. But she then made the decisive break in the sixth game of the third.
Dulko, a former top-ranked doubles player, won her first title in almost three years earlier this season in Acapulco and now has four singles titles to her name. Friday's win was her first over a top-10 player at a major tournament.
Although Dulko is often praised more for her looks than her tennis, she reached a career-high ranking of 26 in November 2005. At majors, she also reached the fourth round at the 2006 French Open and the 2009 U.S. Open.
''I think that there are some journalists who don't just look at my physical aspect,'' Dulko said. ''They respect me as a player. They think I can still improve.''
Up next is for Dulko is No. 11 Marion Bartoli of France - with a quarterfinal spot on the line.
''I feel comfortable and at ease,'' Dulko said. ''I expect something really tough in the fourth round. However, I don't think that this is too much pressure. I will do what I have always done so far. I will play my best tennis and enjoy it.''
