NEW DELHI: In her bid to secure her third French Open title in four years, defending champion Iga Swiatek encountered a minor setback but ultimately secured her place in the tournament's third round. She achieved a 6-4, 6-0 victory over American player Claire Liu in Paris on Thursday.
Starting the match on a strong note, the world number one experienced a brief struggle during the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier. However, she swiftly regained her composure and ended Liu's campaign in a dominant and merciless fashion.
Despite the presence of several empty seats in the sponsor section during the afternoon match, Swiatek showcased her resilience and determination, reaffirming her position as a top contender for the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.
"It's not easy when you play with the wind and change sides to play against it. I'm happy I raised my level in the second set," said Swiatek, who turned 22 on Wednesday.
"Patience is important, especially on clay."
After quickly establishing a 3-0 lead on a sunny court Philippe Chatrier, Swiatek displayed some signs of rushing her game, allowing Liu to break back once as the Polish player momentarily lost focus.
Liu managed to level the score at 3-3, but Swiatek regained her composure and broke Liu's serve again, ultimately winning the opening set.
Swiatek maintained her dominance and did not let up, swiftly ending Liu's challenge on the second match point with a powerful backhand winner down the line.
In the next round, Swiatek is set to face China's Wang Xinyu as she continues her campaign at the French Open.
