There are victories that feel good. In a crucial encounter, Poland’s Iga Swiatek outlasted Czech Karolina Muchova (17th) in the round of 16 in 2:47 (6-1/4-6/6-4). In addition to joining the last four of the Masters 1000 in Montreal, the Pole is sure to keep her place as world No.1 in the next WTA ranking. Swiatek will begin its 72nd week of hegemony on Monday.
The Pole pocketed the first set where Muchova failed to convert her break points in the third and fifth games. But, as in the final at Roland-Garros, the Czech managed to equalize with one set everywhere, before the rain interrupted the proceedings for more than three hours. Swiatek started the decisive set by immediately taking the service of Muchova, before a new interruption due to the rain, this time for two hours. The Polish confirmed her break in advance after their return from the locker room. She kept it until the end and ended the game with a white game.
Among the six eighths that could take place despite the interruptions, Jessica Pegula, semi-finalist of the tournament last year, qualified by leaving no chance to Jasmine Paolini. The American delighted the service of the Italian five times, whom she beat for the fifth time in five confrontations, with the final score of 6-4, 6-0 in 1 h 09 min. She will meet in the next round, to try to find the semi-finals, her compatriot and usual doubles partner Coco Gauff who even more easily beat another Czech, Marketa Vondrousova, recent winner of the Wimbledon tournament, 6-3, 6- 0 in 1 h 02 min.
