Iga Swiatek secured her spot in the French Open quarter-finals after opponent Lesia Tsurenko retired through illness during the first set. The Ukrainian player was treated by medical staff when trailing 4-1 and although she returned to the court, she soon pulled out after being broken to love in the next game.
Swiatek, who was coming off a near-perfect double-bagel victory over Wang Xinyu in the third round on Saturday, will meet American sixth seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals. This match will be a rematch of the 2022 final.
Despite Tsurenko’s impressive 6-1 6-1 win over former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, the Ukrainian was the clear underdog against the in-form world No. 1. Swiatek, one of the favorites to win at Roland-Garros this year, has been on top form in this tournament.
“It was tough for me to warm up, but I was hoping for just starting the match and maybe I would feel a little bit better. But, unfortunately, it was getting worse, so I had to stop because it was not the way I wanted to be on court and to play tennis for sure,” said Tsurenko who had earlier beaten 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova in Paris.
The 34-year-old was in the fourth round in Paris for just the second time in her career but betrayed signs of injury at 4-0 down in the first set. At 4-1, she summoned the doctors who checked her pulse and blood pressure. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing end for the world No. 66.
Swiatek, on the other hand, has been in excellent shape throughout the tournament, showing that she is a force to be reckoned with. She has been a standout performer, and her level of play has been remarkable.
Swiatek will face off against Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals in a rematch of the 2022 final. The American sixth seed beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 7-5 6-2 to enter the last eight. Swiatek will need to be at her best to overcome Gauff, who has the potential to cause an upset.
The French Open has been a thrilling tournament so far, with some exceptional performances on display. It will be interesting to see how Iga Swiatek performs against Coco Gauff, as there is sure to be an exciting match in store for tennis fans.
In conclusion, Iga Swiatek has advanced to the quarter-finals of the French Open without much opposition due to Tsurenko’s unfortunate illness. Swiatek has been on top form throughout the tournament, and her next opponent, Coco Gauff, will be a formidable challenge. Tennis fans will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating this quarterfinal match.
