Polish teenager Iga Swiatek has avenged her fourth-round defeat in last year’s event to top seed Simona Halep, by getting one over the Italian Open winner in straight sets.
Her big, heavy forehand and touch on drop shots are causing havoc to opponents, with top seed Simona Halep the latest to experience the Polish teen’s impressive arsenal.
Swiatek defeated Halep and in resounding fashion, 6-1, 6-2, a year after she fell to the Romanian in 45 minutes at the same stage.
Swiatek told on-court interviewer Cedric Pioline she couldn’t quite believe she had beaten the World No 2.
The 19-year-old’s shock was just as prevalent when she later addressed reporters.
“I am, I think stunned,” says Swiatek, who is into her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Watch the match highlights below
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French Open 2020: Simona Halep, Kiki Bertens through to fourth round PLUS other results [Video]
The dots have thus been connected. The triangle has been completed.
Last year in Paris, Simona Halep lost to American teenage tennis player Amanda Anisimova after sending Swiatek out of the competition previously with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
On Friday, Halep got her revenge on Anisimova winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, and likewise, Swiatek got her chance against Halep and she took full advantage.
The Pole certainly noted the coincidence and drew inspiration from it.
“I just felt that it’s possible and I could do it,” Swiatek says.“I was thinking about that, and we were laughing (with her team) after the match that it’s a really similar situation because we are both 2001.
“I think it’s really nice that we have many younger players coming up and that aren’t scared. And I’m happy that I am one of them, and I am going to continue in that way.”
Kiki Bertens loses to Martina Trevisan
Another title favourite, Kiki Bertens, suffered a shock 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Italian qualifier and world No.159 Martina Trevisan in 95 minutes.
“I’m living in a dream. I came here two weeks ago to my Roland-Garros qualifying but today I’m here in the quarter-finals,” says the 26-year-old lefty, who becomes the first Italian woman to make the quarter-finals in Paris since Sara Errani in 2015.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it. I’m really honoured to play in this court with Bertens, because she’s an incredible player. I can’t believe it.”
Trevisan, who saved two match points in her win over Maria Sakkari two days earlier, is making her Roland-Garros debut. After 16 straight losses to top-100 players across all level between 2017 and 2020, she has now posted four consecutive wins over such opponents in one week.
Trevisan and Swiatek will square off in the last eight.
Elina Svitolina eases past Caroline Garcia
Third-seeded Elina Svitolina has made it through to the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros for the first time since 2017.
She didn’t seem to be joking around as she defeated Caroline Garcia in straight-sets to reach the last 8.
Having made the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, Svitolina is the highest-remaining seed and the only seed in her half’s favourite to make it through to Saturday’s final.
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