World No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland reached her first career Olympic quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over China's Wang Xiyu at the 2024 Paris Games on Tuesday. With the win, Swiatek becomes the first Polish player to make an Olympic quarterfinal in singles.
Top-seeded Swiatek needed 1 hour and 51 minutes to hold off Wang, who is placed World No.52 in the PIF WTA Singles Rankings. Swiatek collected her second clay-court win over Wang this year, having previously topped the Chinese left-hander at Madrid.
In her previous Olympic appearance, Swiatek fell to Paula Badosa in the second round at 2021 Tokyo on hard court. But things might turn out quite differently for the Pole this time around, where she will aim for medals on the clay of Roland Garros, a site where she has dominated.
Swiatek's win over Wang on Tuesday came on Court Philippe Chatrier -- the very arena where she has captured four French Open titles in the last five years. Including her three wins this week, Swiatek is a commanding 38-2 on the grounds of Roland Garros throughout her career.
Wang gave Swiatek a true challenge in both sets on Tuesday, holding three break points combined in Swiatek's first three service games. However, Swiatek erased those chances, then fired a backhand crosscourt passing winner to earn the first break of the day and lead 4-2.
Swiatek took the first set, then eased ahead by a break at 4-3 in the second set. Wang had a medical time-out after that game, where her strapped left leg was attended to. The Chinese player came out firing in the next game, breaking at love for 4-4.
But Swiatek regained her break lead at 5-4, then fended off a final charge by Wang in the next game, saving one last break point. Swiatek closed out the match with her first ace of the day.
To reach the medal rounds, Swiatek will have to take down No.8 seed Danielle Collins of the United States in the quarters. Swiatek has a commanding 6-1 head-to-head lead over Collins, but the American's one win came in a huge match -- the 2022 Australian Open semifinals.
I know there are quite a few fans out there who are stressed or afraid of Iga having to face Collins next. Partly because we all want Iga to win a medal so badly.
And Collins can be a challenge.
While I think the fans concerns are valid I also trust Iga on clay more then any other surface to find solutions under immense pressure and stress.
She has proven that by winning the last 3 Roland Garros in a row.
I realize the Olympics bring with it a different kind of pressure, but I truly think even with all of the expectations this time Iga will find a way. I think it'll be close but she'll find a way.
I don't actually think they've ever faced each other on clay and Iga is just a different beast on this surface.
Poland is with you Iga, we believe.
Give it your all as you always do, and just go for it tomorrow.
Jazda!
17 consecutive sets won on Philippe-Chatrier.
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