Swiatek keeps nerve as Coco advances
WORLD NO. 1 Iga Swiatek kept her nerve to beat 26th-ranked Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-7 (79), 6-4, 6-4 at the WTA Miami Open yesterday.
A day after Swiatek’s closest challenger, Aryna Sabalenka, was knocked out of the tournament, the Pole faced a real test from Noskova.
The Czech had upset Swiatek in the third round of the Australian Open before the four-time Grand Slam winner gained revenge at Indian Wells.
“It wasn’t easy. There were just many ups and downs, Swiatek said. “I’m happy that after first set I had better idea on what to do, and I just tried to do that in important moments.
“Sometimes we have matches like that and we need to figure out how to close them anyway.”
France’s Caroline Garcia progressed to a fourth-round match against world No. 3 Coco Gauff with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 win yesterday over Naomi Osaka.
Reigning US Open champion Gauff was down 4-2 in the first set to France’s Oceane Dodin before winning 10 straight games and running out a 6-4, 6-0 winner.
Gauff said she expected a difficult game against Garcia.
“She’s tough. We all know how she plays. Takes the ball super early, plays very aggressive,” she said.
Fifth-seeded American
Pegula beat Canada’s
Jessica Leylah
Fernandez 7-5, 6-4 to set up a fourth round clash with in-form compatriot Emma Navarro.
Paolini, who won the
WTA 1000 Series event in Dubai earlier this year, faded after fighting back in the second set while
Navarro confirmed her status as one of the most improved players on the tour.
With her 20th match win of the season, a record bettered only by Swiatek,
Navarro is enjoying the most successful campaign of her career, having won her first WTA title in Hobart in January.
Pegula said the belief that comes from such a run of results will make her a difficult opponent.
“That feeling of winning a lot of matches, it’s really tough to beat people like that and even if you do beat them it’s never easy,” she said.
“It will be a really good test for me to see where I’m at considering she is probably one of the hottest players on tour right now.”
The 20th seed’s rise has impressed Gauff.
“I’m not surprised by her being top 20, honestly. I would say (more) maybe how fast,” Gauff said.
“She’s a great athlete. She’s a very smart player, she’s giving the top players trouble. She’s not somebody you want to see early in the tournament.” – AFP