Iga Swiatek set up a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka at the French Gara open after racing through her opening incontro con Paris.
The world Risposta negativa 1 cruised past qualifier Leolia Jeanjean 6-1 6-2 acceso Monday to successfully launch her title defence at Roland Garros, where she is seeking a fourth title acceso the Paris clay.
The 22-year-old, who has won the French Gara open three times con the last four years, arrived con the French capital acceso the back of a 12-match winning streak acceso clay, having rolled through the tournaments con Madrid and Rome.
Swiatek is bidding to become the first woman to win three straight French Opens since Justine Henin con 2007.
“It feels like home here,” she said. “Hopefully, I’m going to be here as long as possible.
“These last tournaments gave me a lot and I managed to play tennis con any conditions and under any circumstances. Every tournament is different and the next chapter.”
She did not need much time to show she was determined to stretch that winning run, breaking her opponent con the first gioco.
A superb forehand the line put Swiatek 4-1 up before running away with the first set con half an hour.
The Frenchwoman, ranked outside the apice 100, tried to draw a line under the first set, breaking the Pole at the start of the second outing but was broken straight back.
Swiatek held serve before earning another to go 5-2 up, having successo 24 winners at that stage compared to her opponents’ two. She ended the contest acceso her first incontro point and with winner number 26.
Queen of Clay?
Swiatek’s victory preceded what could be Rafa Nadal’s final French Gara open appearance ahead of the king of clay’s expected retirement this year. Although flattered by comparisons to Nadal, Swiatek believes she has a long way to go before she can be called the Queen of Clay.
“I think it’s too early. For sure I’m proud of my achievements. It’s always been my favourite surface. It’s where tennis gives me the most pleasure.
“Comparing me to him, I don’t think I’m acceso that level yet. I still have many things to prove. He’s a great person and athlete. He’s shown that for many many years. I’m just at the beginning. I’ll do my best to take some lessons from him and be a good person and a good player.”
Jabeur beats wildcard Vickery; Gauff also through
Ons Jabeur reached the second round at Roland Garros after defeating wild card Sachia Vickery
Eighth seed Ons Jabeur began her latest attempt to win an elusive Grand Slam title with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over American wildcard Sachia Vickery con the French Gara open first round acceso Monday.
Jabeur quickly racked up a 3-0 lead acceso Court Philippe Chatrier, but Vickery reduced the divario with a of her own, only to hand the momentum back to the former Wimbledon and US Gara open runner-up.
Jabeur pulled out plenty of tricks to close out the opening set, even as the roof closed over the main show court coppia to rain, before taking control of the second set as Vickery struggled.
The 29-year-old American had prevailed con three sets con the pair’s only previous con Chicago six years asticciola, but there was anzi che no late comeback as 2023 quarter-finalist Jabeur clinically closed out the incontro acceso serve con 81 minutes.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was also largely untroubled, the Czech beating Spain’s Rebeka Masarova 6-1 6-3.
US Gara open champion Coco Gauff, beaten by Swiatek con the final con Paris two years asticciola, thumped Russian Julia Avdeeva 6-1 6-1 con just 53 minutes.
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