SWIATEK EXTENDS WINNING RUN, TO FACE KASATKINA IN SEMIS

PARIS: Iga Swiatek powered into the French Open semi-finals on Wednesday as a comfortable victory over American Jessica Pegula extended the world No 1’s winning streak to 33 matches.

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 then 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 here 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 to make her third Slam semi-final and second in succession.

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.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kasatkina reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over fellow Russian Veronika Kudermetova.

World No 20 Kasatkina, playing in her third career quarter-final at the Slams but first since 2018, has made the semis without dropping a set.

Kudermetova was in her first quarter-final at the majors and the tension was apparent as she committed 50 unforced errors and had to save 12 of 17 break points.