Huge sensation at the Roland-Garros Central! In a women’s tournament that walks on the heads, the young Polish Iga Swiatek, 19 years old and 54th in the world, created one of the biggest surprises of the fortnight by outclassing (6-1, 6-2) the world n ° 2 Simona Halep, winner of the Parisian Grand Slam two years ago.
“I don’t know what happened,” Swiatek smiles, almost incredulously in the middle of the court. Everything went perfectly. I was so focused that I am surprised I did this! Since the juniors, Roland-Garros has always been my favorite tournament. A dream is coming true and I hope it will last… ”
The Warsaw player gave the impression of knowing the Romanian’s game by heart, anticipating any of her choices and playing in total relaxation, with an innate sense of cushioning.
Hecatomb among the seeds
“I lost against Simona last year and it was an experience, with a first game on a big court,” she explains. Since then I have progressed, I have played Simona, Naomi Osaka. It helped me. I can take the pressure. “
After breaking away 2-0 early in the second set, Swiatek had three 3-0 balls, then managed to lead 4-1 on her third break point. The coup de grace for a drifting Halep.
For the past eight days, Swiatek has not been afraid of anything. In the first round, she corrected Marketa Vondrousova, a finalist in Paris last year. The premature disappearance of Halep increases the death toll among the seeds. Pliskova (n ° 2), Bertens (n ° 5), Azarenka (n ° 10), S. Williams (n ° 6), Sabalenka (n ° 8) or Muguruza (n ° 11) have already fallen by the wayside.
The two best ranked players still in the race will be up against the last two French women in contention. Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina (No. 3) faces Caroline Garcia on Sunday afternoon and American Sofia Kenin (No. 4) will play Fiona Ferro on Monday.
