Iga Swiatek, the defending French Open champion, entered the third round in Grand Style while Serena Williams will be aiming to make progress.
Follow Us
Iga Swiatek put up a fine performance in the 2021 French Open second-round clash as she defeated Rebecca Peterson of Sweden. Iga Swiatek defeated Peterson 6-1,6-1 as she kept her title quest alive. Serena Williams will resume her quest for a record-equaling 24th title on Friday as she takes on Danielle Ross Collins of the USA in the third round. Swiatek showed her prowess as she continued her quest to being the best in Roland Garros.
Elina Svitolina had little difficulty in booking her place in the third round of Roland Garros. Former finalist Sloane Stephens knocked out Karolina Pliskova on Thursday. Svitolina’s 6-0, 6-4 victory in one hour and 14 minutes had similarities to her first-round win. In round one, the No.5 seed had cruised through the first set against wildcard Oceane Babel. But, she found herself in a difficult spot, before overturning a 2-5 deficit in the second set to win the match. On Thursday, she whitewashed the American in the opening set. But yet again had to claw her way back from a 1-4 deficit to win the set and the match.
Top seed Ashleigh Barty retired from her match against Poland’s Magda Linette in the second round due to injury. The Aussie revealed following her first-round victory that she injured her left hip and was unable to overcome it. Elsewhere, No.4 seed Sofia Kenin ousted fellow American Hailey Baptiste 7-5, 6-3. She will next face No.28 seed Jessica Pegula, who won 6-3, 6-3 over Tereza Martincova.
Sloane Stephens, 2018 finalist, reached the third round with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over No.9 seed Karolina Pliskova. The absorbing first set saw the American setting the pace, while the Czech had to play catch-up throughout. Stephens initially led 3-1, before Pliskova pegged her back to 3-3. She rebuilt her lead to go up 5-3 before the Czech fought back to level it again.
However, the former US Open champion broke again to win the set 7-5. The second set was one-way traffic as the American lost just one game en route to winning the match.
