Iga Swiatek held off a strong challenge from former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova to reach the third round of the Canadian Open to set up a tasty rematch with Karolina Muchova.
Fresh from winning her maiden title on home soil in Poland a fortnight ago, Swiatek was involved in a scrappy opening set with Pliskova before getting her act together to a secure 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 victory to take her 2023 win-loss record to 48–7.
“This first match was a challenge, it’s always a challenge especially against a player like that,” Swiatek said after the match.
“She for sure used her experience in the first set, but I am happy that I could close it in a tie-break, and in the second set I was more solid because I really wanted to reset, think about what I could do better and I am pretty glad that I did that.”
The world No 1 did get off to a blistering start as she broke in the opening game of the match, but her Czech opponent hit back immediately. Swiatek again got her nose in front in game seven, but again her rival countered with an immediate break.
And so it went to a tie-breaker, which the Pole edged.
From there it was much more straightforward as Swiatek broke in games two and six of the second set, although Pliskova did get one break back.
Roland Garros runner-up Muchova awaits in the third round and when the pair met in Paris just over two months ago, Swiatek came out on top with a 6–2, 5–7, 6–4 win.
But the four-time Grand Slam champion knows she cannot rest on her laurels.
“I think any way we have to be ready for the next match and kind of expect that anything can happen because tennis can be pretty unpredictable,” Swiatek said.
“You know, one player can have a bad day. At the same time the other one can play the best tennis of their life.”
Meanwhile, Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova ended former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki’s comeback run as she beat the Dane 6-2, 7-5 in the second round.
More than three years after she retired, Wozniacki returned to action in Montreal on Tuesday and comfortably beat qualifier Kimberly Birrell from Australia.
However, Vondrousova was always going to be a step up and the Czech claimed a solid win to set up a clash against sixth seed Coco Gauff, who defeated Katie Boulter 6-2, 6-2.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her campaign with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) win over Petra Martic while third seed Elena Rybakina survived a test as she beat the resurgent Jennifer Brady 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
“I would say the conditions are little bit tricky,” Sabalenka said. “I was practicing in Florida and the bounce was completely different. I remember in US Open and Cincinnati the ball bounces high. Here the ball is not bouncing at all. So it’s a little tricky to play here but I hope to adjust and play my best tennis.”
