Defending champion Iga Swiatek wrapped up fourth-round action at the 2021 French Open with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Marta Kostyuk on Monday night.
The first player to go up a break was Kostyuk. The Ukrainian’s lead was short-lived, as the eighth-seeded Swiatek won a game that lasted nine minutes and 38 seconds to break back right away and level to 2-2 in the first set. The set was tight and could have gone either way. The fact that Swiatek won the last three games in the set doesn’t mean that the Pole smooth-sailed.
The second set also had an exchange of breaks in the third and fourth game, this time started by Swiatek. The 20-year-old then consolidated a break to go 5-3 up, but Kostyuk was always breathing behind her neck. The unseeded 18-year-old had a break point in the eighth game and saved a match point in the ninth game of the second set. Swiatek’s experience eventually prevailed, as last year’s Roland Garros champion converted her second match point with a lob.
Swiatek is the only Top 10 player in this year’s French Open quarterfinals. Her opponent in the final eight will be Maria Sakkari of Greece, who eliminated last year’s runner-up Sofia Kenin earlier on Monday.
Swiatek is also still alive in doubles. Partnered with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, she’s playing the quarterfinals against Darija Jurak and Andreja Klepac on Tuesday. (photos: Jimmie48)
