Iga Swiatek epitomises the humble champion – polite to all-comers, gracious in victory and magnanimous in defeat.
Following her victory over 2010 ladies’ finalist Vera Zvonareva at The Championships two days ago, the Pole’s good manners were on full display when she respectfully explained to a fan why she was unable to hand over her player towel, given these Covid times and all.
Swiatek hit peak politeness, however, on Day 1 when she inadvertently ploughed into a camera mounted on the umpire’s chair, before she promptly turned and instinctively said sorry. Yes, to a camera.
The 20-year-old, though, makes no apologies for how she sees off the over-thirties on court of late. First up at Wimbledon this year it was 35-year-old Hsieh Su-wei, next the 36-year-old Zvonareva, and on Friday world No.79 Irina-Camelia Begu,
Her ruthless 6-1, 6-0 routing of the Romanian in just 57 minutes made it her ninth straight victory over this cohort and sealed her place in the round of 16.
In only her 10th main draw appearance at this level, Swiatek has now reached the fourth round or better at three of the four Grand Slams.
“I feel like I'm playing better and better every match, and I'm actually getting more confidence because I have been on a grass court for some time now… I just feel the surface much, much better than at the beginning of the tournament, and during [the] tournament in Eastbourne,” Swiatek said.
“It's easier to implement all the tactics that I wasn't able to implement when I wasn't feeling comfortable. It's just easier to lead for me and to be aggressive on court and stay focused all the time.” Begu had done a wondrous job to equal her best Wimbledon showing at 30, taking down the No.26 seed Petra Martic in the second round for good measure. But against the No.7 seed she had no answers.
It was all slipping away far too quickly for the Romanian’s liking as Swiatek reeled off 10 points to leap to a 5-0 advantage in just 15 minutes.
Across the grounds on No.2 Court, the No.8 seed Karolina Pliskova and Tereza Martincova had not even made it through their first two games.
Begu needed no neighbouring court’s scoreline comparison to know how rapidly this was unravelling.
She finally stopped the rot to get her name on the board and looked to have brought up her first break points of the set only for the Pole to pull off an exquisite running backhand lob.
It set off an almighty to and fro before the Pole was finally able to wriggle free and serve out the opening set.
It was a blink and you’d miss it outing. A double break for 3-0 was quickly registered while Pliskova and Martincova still stood at 3-2 in their opening set.
The finish line was approaching fast and a shanked forehand summed up the Romanian’s day as for the second time this match, Swiatek stood within a game of delivering a Begu bagel.
It came four points later, the duel done and dusted in just 57 minutes, while over on No.2 Court it was Pliskova who eventually prevailed.
Swiatek had developed into a vastly superior player in the two short years since she bowed to Viktorija Golubic at the first hurdle on debut.
“I didn't actually have [any] idea on how to play on grass. This time it's much, much better, so I just developed overall,” Swiatek said.
“My skills are just better and it's easier to adjust to any surface when you're just a better tennis player. I grew up, so also mentally I can handle all the challenges.”
If ever last year’s Roland-Garros champion needed an omen to buoy her outlook for the second week, a look back at Garbiñe Muguruza’s and Simona Halep’s records were a good start.
Both landed their first Grand Slam trophy in Paris before they stood triumphant at the All England Club a year later.
The No.7 seed could meet the Spaniard next, but won’t have any qualms politely declining a look at the draw beyond – good omens or not.
! Jabeur next won't be easy but not impossible. It'll come down to who handles their nerves better at the end I think. Jazda Iga
No comments:
Post a Comment