On Monday, world number one Iga Swiatek will compete for a spot in the French Open quarter-finals against emerging Chinese star Zheng Qinwen. At the same time, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will continue their campaigns in the men’s draw.
Swiatek, the 2020 Roland Garros winner, is on a 31-match winning run and is attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the third year in a row.
“From my perspective, I don’t mind the streak,” she stated after defeating Danka Kovinic in the third round.
“I’m simply having fun with my tennis. I’ve already gained so many points this season that I try to look at it because I have nothing to lose.”
Swiatek has not lost a set in her previous nine matches, having won WTA 1,000 championships at Indian Wells, Miami, and Rome this season.
However, in the fourth round, she may face a more difficult opponent in Zheng, who has already eliminated previous champion Simona Halep and local favourite Alize Cornet.
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Since the beginning of last year, the 19-year-old has won five second-tier ITF championships and has risen to 74th in the WTA rankings.
Swiatek remarked of her forthcoming opponent, “I’m not particularly acquainted (with Zheng).” “I haven’t watched much tennis in the last few months, but I have overheard some other players talking about her.”
Following the Covid epidemic and the Peng Shuai incident, Zheng was the only Chinese player to go beyond the first round, offering some delight to tennis fans back home who had had nothing to shout about on the court.
“I’ve prepared for this match because I’m looking forward to playing against her. So I’m looking forward to this match, “Zheng remarked after Cornet quit from their third-round encounter with a 6-0, 3-0 deficit.
“I know what I’m capable of, and all I have to do now is be patient and wait for the right opportunity.”
Tsitsipas faces Danish teen
Tsitsipas, the runner-up last year, will face Holger Rune, the first Danish man to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament since Kenneth Carlsen in the 1993 Australian Open.
Tsitsipas laboured to a five-set victory over Lorenzo Musetti in the first round before defeating Czech world number 134 Zdenek Kolar in four sets after a four-hour battle.
In round three, though, he returned to form with a straight-set victory against Mikael Ymer.
Tsitsipas is still looking for his first major trophy, having lost in 2021 final against Novak Djokovic after blowing a two-set lead.
Rune, who is just 19, made his Grand Slam debut at last year’s US Open when he beat Djokovic.
On Monday night, world number two, Daniil Medvedev will face former US Open winner Marin Cilic on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Veronika Kudermetova, Daria Kasatkina, and Andrey Rublev, all Russians, are also in action as they aim to build a name for themselves before losing out on Wimbledon due to their country’s invasion of Ukraine.
