Former WTA world leader Iga Swiatek emerged victorious in the match against Romanian player Jaqueline Cristian in the 3rd round at Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The current top-ranked Romanian tennis player, Cristian, ranked 60th in the WTA, surprised the athlete who has dominated the clay court seasons in recent years with quality serving and a lot of topspin in her shots.
Swiatek won with a score of 6-2, 7-5, against Jaqueline, after a more than honorable performance by the 26-year-old Romanian. Cristian posed real challenges for the Polish player, delivering a solid performance, and Iga stated that she was happy to close the set and the match before a potential decider:
"It was definitely a good match. She really stepped up in the second set, was more aggressive, so I had to do the same. It became an intense, fun match and I'm glad I had the strength to close it in two sets. Fortunately, I managed to break in the last game, after trying unsuccessfully throughout the set. I couldn't do it, even though I had my chances, so I'm glad I stayed strong."
"I think there should be equality, although I'm not very interested in the subject. I focus on doing my job, adapting to the schedule I'm given, and that's it. But yes, I believe there should be equal treatment because women's matches can also be very entertaining. As you could see in my match today, the audience truly enjoyed the game. Jaqueline and I put on a great show, so I think there should be equality, I have nothing else to say," said Iga at the official press conference after the match.
In the round of 16, Swiatek will face Elena Rybakina, with whom she doesn't have a brilliant record in direct encounters, tied at 4-4, the last clay court meeting between the two being won by the Kazakh player.
D.A.