PARIS — Iga
Swiatek powered into the
French Open semifinals on Wednesday as a comfortable
victory over American Jessica Pegula extended the world number one’s winning
streak to 33 matches.
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The Polish star
cruised to a 6–3, 6–2 win on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a last-four
meeting with
Daria Kasatkina on Thursday.
Swiatek will equal
Venus Williams’ record for the longest unbeaten run for a women’s player in the
21st century if she wins a second Roland Garros title this week.
But she said she
still feels nervous before big matches despite appearing in almost unbeatable
form.
“I do (feel
nervous),” said Swiatek. “If I stop feeling nervous than something weird is
going on. … Sometimes stress is a positive thing as it makes you more tense and
more active.”
The top seed, who
turned 21 on Tuesday, won her only Grand Slam title so far in Paris two years
ago.
She has won five
consecutive tournaments this year, including four WTA 1,000 titles.
Despite not being
at her best, Swiatek still hit 30 winners in an ultimately one-sided match.
The 11th seed
Pegula has also enjoyed a fine season but is still waiting to reach a maiden
major semi-final after also losing in the last eight at the previous two
Australian Opens.
Another dominant
display from the Pole looked likely when Swiatek broke in the first game and
then led 40-0 in the second.
But Pegula reeled
off five straight points to break straight back and signal the world’s best
player may not have it all her own way.
Swiatek played an
excellent return game to move 4–3 in front, before wrapping up the opening set
by completing a run of four successive games as Pegula mishit wide.
She saved a
breakpoint early in the second set before opening up a 3–1 lead herself with a
backhand winner up the line.
Pegula managed to save
three match points in the eighth game as she tried to make Swiatek serve the
match out, but the former champion sealed victory with another perfectly-placed
backhand.
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