Iga Swiatek cruises into last-8; Karolina Muchova stutters in R16

The two finalists of the 2023 French Open went about different ways at the Warsaw Open on Thursday. Iga Swiatek, the world no. 1 and the player who won Roland Garros reached the quarter-finals. The absolute favourite to win the title this week in her native, the 22-year-old defeated Claire Liu in their second-round clash.

Meanwhile, Karolina Muchova, the runner-up to Swiatek’s champion in Paris, lost in the second round here against Rebecca Sramkova.Swiatek needed an hour and 37 minutes to wrap up a 6-2, 6-2 win over the American. This was the third time this season that Swiatek and Liu had faced each other and now, following this win, Swiatek’s now leading year-to-date head-to-head, 3-0.The four-time Grand Slam champion won 74% of her first-serve points to Liu’s 54%.

She also won 47% of her second-serve points and 68% points on return on Liu’s second serve. Swiatek saved five of the six break points she faced while converting five break points on her opponent’s serve.