PARIS: Reigning champion Iga Swiatek celebrated her 23rd birthday by brushing aside Marie Bouzkova to reach the French Open last 16 on Friday, while Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both powered into the second week.
Alcaraz got the better of Sebastian Korda in straight sets to edge closer to a semi-final meeting with Sinner, who saw off Russian Pavel Kotov 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.“It is difficult to play against him. I had to run a lot. It was like a marathon for me today.”
The world number one is a red-hot favourite to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for a third straight year and become only the fourth woman to win four Roland Garros titles in the Open era.She was much closer to her best form on Friday, hitting 34 winners and making only 19 unforced errors.The Polish star’s win-loss record at the tournament stands at 32-2 and she has never failed to reach the second week.
The 20-year-old failed to serve out the match when leading 5-2 in the second set, but saved three break points in the 10th game before getting over the line, making the fourth round for a fourth straight year. Rublev, who lifted the Madrid Open title last month, repeatedly smashed his racquet in frustration as he made 37 unforced errors in an erratic display.“The problem is the head, that today basically I killed myself, and that’s it.”
The Australian Open champion, who will overtake Novak Djokovic as world number one if he reaches the final, will next take on home hope Corentin Moutet who came from behind to defeat Sebastian Ofner in four sets.Wimbledon champion Alcaraz came through a potentially tough test against American 27th seed Korda 6-4, 7-6 , 6-3 in the night session.
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