In the previous round, Świątek defeated the former leader of the WTA list, Japanese Naomi Osaka, after a nearly three-hour battle in which she had to defend the match ball. This time - the game was more one-sided, the Polish Press Agency reported.
Such an outcome was expected, because Bouzkova is a way less accomplished player than Osaka. The Czech is 42nd in the world ranking - and her highest position ever was 24th, at the end of the 2022 season. In Paris she reached the third round for the first time in her career.
Świątek started to take control of the match from the 1:1 score, when she broke Bouzkova for the first time. A little later she did it again - and the scoreboard read 5-2 in her favor. At this point, Świątek briefly lowered the level, making several mistakes that allowed her opponent to make up for one break. However, the Polish star closed the first set in her next service game.
In the second set, Iga's dominance was even clearer. She served great and didn't have to defend even a single break point. After a dozen or so minutes it was 4-0 for the defending French Open champion. The ambitious Czech managed to win some balls and extend the match a bit - but finally, after an hour and a half, Świątek settled the score at 6:4, 6:2 - and claimed the win.
"I feel good physically, I didn't have the impression that the previous match had an impact. Today I just did solid - and I'm happy about it" - Świątek said in a short post-match on-court interview. The Pole celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday, and the match was watched from the stands by, among others: her dad and sister. Polish fans sang the country's birthday song "Sto Lat!" to Iga - and then a much wider group sang her "Happy Birthday" in English.
Świątek's next rival on Sunday will be Anastazja Potapova, ranked 41, with whom the Pole has never played before. In 1/16, the non-national contestant who will face Iga now, defeated China's Xinyu Wang 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 - reaching the 1/8 finals in Paris for the first time.
If Świątek succeeds in the four remaining games, and claims the third consecutive French Open title - she will go down in history, as in the open era at Roland Garros only Monica Seles (1990-1992) and Justine Henin (2005-2007) have achieved such an impressive feat.
(mm)
Source: IAR