From 6-1, 2-0 down, Swiatek escapes Rybakina at Roland Garros

The primary eight video games of Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round match towards Elena Rybakina have been not like something we have seen at Roland Garros lately.

Roland Garros: Attracts | Scores

4-time champion Iga Swiatek appeared out of kinds on Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier — the identical stage the place she’s gained the trophy every of the previous three years. However on Sunday, she was a good distance from that stage, piling up 27 unforced errors within the first 9 video games and rapidly falling behind to Rybakina, 6-1, 2-0.

However Swiatek was not about to let her 24-match successful streak in Paris finish with out a combat. A missed smash by No. 12 seed Rybakina on break level pulled Swiatek stage — and a comeback effort by the previous World No. 1 was on the playing cards. 

It required a titanic wrestle within the third set, however by the top of two hours and half-hour, Swiatek was a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victor — her twenty fifth straight match gained on the French Open.

“It means so much,” Swiatek mentioned in postmatch press. “I feel I wanted that sort of win to really feel these emotions that I can win below strain, and even when it is not going the fitting manner, you recognize, nonetheless flip the match round to win it.

“For certain it is a fantastic affirmation for me. … Clearly it is nice to even have full management over the match, however towards nice gamers, it is not at all times going to be doable. I am glad that I fought, and I additionally problem-solved on courtroom.”

Svitolina subsequent up: No. 5 seed Swiatek will now tackle No. 13 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine within the quarterfinals. Svitolina toppled final yr’s runner-up to Swiatek, Jasmine Paolini, earlier on Sunday, saving three match factors within the course of.

Swiatek leads their head-to-head 3-1. Svitolina ousted Swiatek at 2023 Wimbledon, however Swiatek gained their different three conferences, together with their solely earlier encounter on clay at 2021 Rome.

Swiatek stays stellar: Swiatek has seen her rating slip from No. 1 to No. 5 over the previous yr, and he or she has not gained a title since her championship right here final yr. That is the primary yr since 2020 that Swiatek has entered her finest occasion with out having gained a title.

However she held off former Wimbledon champion Rybakina — a participant who, amazingly, had overwhelmed Swiatek in each of their earlier clay-court conferences. This time, Swiatek solved the puzzle, and he or she is now an unbelievable 39-2 at this occasion.

Third-set thrills: Swiatek posted a heroic effort to stage the match at one set apiece, however any momentum she might need continued was counteracted by Rybakina, who used an enormous rally backhand to actually knock the racquet out of Swiatek’s arms in a maintain for 3-2.

The pair exchanged breaks by way of 4-4, and Swiatek appeared to interrupt within the subsequent recreation after a Rybakina double fault down break level. The decision, nevertheless, was overturned, and the Kazakh finally held on in that recreation to place herself a recreation away from snapping Swiatek’s streak.

The four-time champion, although, was not fazed. She threw down a thunderous love maintain to succeed in 5-5, then acquired again within the lead after breaking Rybakina as soon as once more. Serving for the victory at 6-5, Swiatek’s forehand peaked when she wanted it most, discovering fiery photographs from that wing to shut out the grueling tussle.

“I have not observed that I made so many winners from my forehand, however for certain, I do know it is a weapon,” Swiatek mentioned. “I prefer it on clay. … It is a shot that I exploit to sort of lead within the factors, so I am glad it labored.”