Hyderabad: Top-seeded Simona Halep was served revenge in an autumnal chill by Polish teenager Iga Swiatek as the 19-year-old ousted the world number two from the French Open on Saturday.
Swiatek defeated Halep 6-1, 6-2 to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Interestingly, just a year ago at the same stage, Halep had ended Swiatek's campaign in just 45 minutes and the result was almost the same 6-1, 6-0.
The 19-year-old, who is also third-highest ranked teenager behind Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff, hails from a small village of Poland --Raszyn.
Swiatek, who has won seven ITF singles titles, is coached by former Polish tennis player named Piotr Sierzputowski. Sierzputowski used to play tennis during his teenage years but was not able to make his name on the senior level.
Iga's father Tomasz Swiatek is a former Olympic rower, who competed in the men’s quadruple sculls event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Interestingly, Swiatek, who has all the traits to be the next big thing in tennis, started playing the game because she wanted to defeat her older sister.
When Halep and Swiatek walked on to the Court Philippe Chatrier on the eighth day at Roland Garros, the Austrian was the logical favourite. However, a little over an hour later a new star was born.
Swiatek played a near-perfect match vs Halep. Though there have already been so many upsets in the both most men and singles draw, Halep's was the most remarkable.
Many observers, who have followed Swiatek's journey, including the teenager's inner circle, were expecting a tough match from the Polish star. But none, was ready for the mind-numbing dominance showed by Iga Swiatek.
Speaking about her win over the former world number, Swiatek, the youngest player left in the women’s draw at 19, said, "Even I am surprised with the result."
“I thought I was playing perfectly. I was so focused for the whole match even I was so surprised that I could do that,” Swiatek further said.
Swiatek's only challenge in the tournament is now to control her bubbling enthusiasm and maintain her form in the next week.
So far, in four matches, the 19-year-old has dropped just 13 games. And She will next take on Italian Martina Trevisan, who upstaged the fifth seed, Kiki Bertens, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.
The biggest take-out from Swiatek's dominating win over Halep is that Roland Garros is as much Pol’s comfort zone as it is Halep’s. And before the start of the clay event, many even touted Halep as the next clay queen.
Halep was surprised and confused at the same time during the 75-minute game as she witnessed all her hard work getting destroyed in front of her eyes. Or maybe she did not see it all. Because nobody was expecting a 19-year-old to strike the ball as hard as she did.
At the speed of 76mph, the young star's backhand was almost as hard as the hardest-hitting player left in the men’s draw -- Dominic Thiem.
Swiatek's quickest forehand was 79mph, which is just two miles an hour slower than the fastest male player -- Jannik Sinner. And in women's tennis... we are talking about 'The Serena Williams' level power.
Here is a sneak peek at Iga Swiatek's career
SINGLES
Finalist (1): 2019 - Lugano.
ADDITIONAL
Polish Fed Cup Team, 2018-20.
Career in Review
2019
First Top 100 season (finishing No.61)
Runner-up at Lugano
Reached 4th round at Roland Garros
3rd round once and 2 round five times (incl. Australian Open and US Open)
Fell 1 round three times (incl .Wimbledon) and in qualifying on four occasions.
2018
Won four singles titles on ITF Circuit.
2017
Won two singles titles on ITF Circuit.
2016
Won first event of career on ITF Circuit in Sweden.
