Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek swept past former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in straight sets to reach the Roland Garros third round on Wednesday.
Poland’s Swiatek won 6-1, 6-2 in one hour 19 minutes and will play either Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek or Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian for a place in the last 16.
Swiatek is bidding to become the first woman to win four consecutive French Open titles since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago.
Earlier in the day, last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also eased past their opponents to enter the third round.
During the warm-up, Paolini, who is trained by Nadal’s former coach Marc Lopez, approached the permanent footprint of the 14-time French Open champion that was installed next to the net on Roland Garros’s main court during a ceremony in the Spaniard’s honour last Sunday, and gave it a light touch.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
During the warm-up, Paolini, who is trained by Nadal’s former coach Marc Lopez, approached the permanent footprint of the 14-time French Open champion that was installed next to the net on Roland Garros’s main court during a ceremony in the Spaniard’s honour last Sunday, and gave it a light touch.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
The Italian fourth seed was barely bothered in a one-sided affair, beating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3, on a gloomy Parisian day as she set up a meeting with Ukrainian lucky loser Yuliia Starodubtseva or Russian Anastasia Potapova.
During the warm-up, Paolini, who is trained by Nadal’s former coach Marc Lopez, approached the permanent footprint of the 14-time French Open champion that was installed next to the net on Roland Garros’s main court during a ceremony in the Spaniard’s honour last Sunday, and gave it a light touch.
“It’s hard to play against Ajla, she’s very aggressive but I tried to mix it up and play aggressively myself,” Paolini said.
Next up for China’s Zheng Qinwen will be Canada’s 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko after the world number 120 continued her impressive debut with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win against Germany’s Eva Lys
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Next up for China’s Zheng Qinwen will be Canada’s 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko after the world number 120 continued her impressive debut with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win against Germany’s Eva Lys
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
China’s Zheng powered past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-2, 6-3 as the eighth seed had too much firepower for her tricky 85th-ranked opponent, breaking serve at will during an impressive performance.
“It’s not easy to play her, she put every ball back,” Zheng, runner-up at the 2024 Australian Open, said on court. “It was not easy to finish the points.
“I was really happy with my performance today.”
Next up will be Canada’s 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko after the world number 120 continued her impressive debut with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 win against Germany’s Eva Lys.
(With AFP inputs)
