via Reuters
Tennis – WTA Premier 5 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek reacts during her final match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
via Reuters
Tennis – WTA Premier 5 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 16, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek reacts during her final match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
This year’s defending champion, Iga Swiatek, got off to a great start at the French Open 2021. The Polish player crushed Kaja Juvan in straight sets in the first round of the tournament. Interestingly, she even managed to bagel her opponent in the very first set. The final scoreline of the match was 6-0, 7-5.
With her first-set bagel at the French Open 2021, Swiatek managed to achieve three consecutive bagels on tour. In her last match, she accomplished a double-set bagel over Karolina Pliskova in the finals of the Italian Open 2021. Today, it was a really pleasant victory for the Polish player and her happiness doubled up as it is her birthday as well.
Birthday c̶a̶k̶e̶ bagel 🥯@iga_swiatek isn't wasting any time today. The reigning champ takes the opening set 6-0 over Juvan. pic.twitter.com/aYmg0n7YHK
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2021
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In the post-match interview, Swiatek revealed that she is a great friend of Juvan. However, she stated that while playing a match on the court, even a friend turns into an opponent as a player only focuses on winning the match.
“On court, we basically have no friends because we are opponents…Sometimes it’s hard to switch these two modes,” said Swiatek in the interview.
Swiatek on playing a good friend:
'On court we basically have no friends because we are opponents…Sometimes it's hard to switch these two modes but I feel I am better & better at it because I played Kaja at the beginning of the season…She didn't give me any birthday gifts.' pic.twitter.com/ItXiCuBgZo
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) May 31, 2021
Both Swiatek and Juvan are 20-years-old now and get along quite well. They even chatted for a long time after their match got over. Surprisingly, she even wrote ‘Feeling Old #20’ on the camera lens after the interview.
“I feel I am better” – Iga Swiatek
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Even though Swiatek appreciated Juvan for giving her a tough fight in the second set, she believes she was the better player in the match. She also sarcastically said that Juvan didn’t give her any birthday presents.
via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Italian Open – Foro Italico, Rome, Italy – May 15, 2021. Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her quarter-final match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
“I feel I am better & better at it because I played Kaja at the beginning of the season…She didn’t give me any birthday gifts,” added the Polish player.
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After this, Swiatek will advance to the second round of the French Open 2021. She is right now on an eight-match winning streak at Roland Garros and has won all her last 16 sets that she has played at the tournament. Will Swiatek be able to carry forward her momentum and defend her title in Paris this year?
