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World number one Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 37 matches with a three-set victory over Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, admitting she still found grass to be “quite tricky” at Wimbledon.
The Polish star was able to match the efforts of Martina Hingis in 1997 with this new triumph and kept the name at the All England Club.
Swiatek has arguably just won the French Open, but has only played SW19 twice before.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek beats Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 #Wimbledon pic. twitter. com/XoCr1Fpqu6
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) 30 June 2022
And even with her fourth-round appearance last year, she is eager to downplay expectations after battling for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Dutch previous player Pattinama Kerkhove in more than two hours.
“Honestly, a game. I don’t even think about past games and the series because I don’t think it will provide me with anything right now,” the 21-year-old said.
“Certainly, my confidence, I built it this season. That’s better. It’s getting bigger and bigger with each tournament.
“I would say the grass is sensitive to me. I’m not going to lie. I mean, I guess you can see that I probably wouldn’t be playing as well as on other surfaces. “
“Basically, my confidence is general. But this tournament is complicated and I still don’t know how to play the most productive game here. “
Alize Cornet, who this week suspected that several players had Covid-19 at Roland Garros but hid it, is next for Swiatek in the third round.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek saw one of her potential championship rivals come out early in the fourth after 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova suffered a surprise loss to Britain’s Katie Boulter.
Boulter beat the sixth seed at Eastbourne last week, and still turned the odds around with a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory on center court.
Boulter’s victory, which sent her into the knockout stages for the first time at the All England Club, came two days after her grandmother’s death.
The British number 3 added: “I tried to vent my feelings and handle the situation, to try to keep my head in tennis. I was lucky because my grandfather decided to come from Leicester, so we were able to keep him corporate and continue him at the same time.
Serena Williams’ conqueror Harmony Tan will face the local favourite after beating Sara Sorribes Tormo after reconciling with Tamara Korpatsch, who was due to play doubles with Tan on Wednesday only for the French to retire hours before their scheduled match.
Heather Watson, another British winner on the fourth day after needing 8 minutes to seal an overnight victory over Wang Qiang.
There were tears on court two after Simona Halep, who won here in 2019, sent Kirsten Flipkens into retirement.
Prepare your handkerchiefs. An emotional @FlipperKF gracefully ended his singles at Wimbledon ?? #Wimbledon pic. twitter. com/qVdZHoOzSW
– Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) 30 June 2022
Belgium’s Flipkens, winners of Wimbledon junior, announced in early June that this would be their singles tournament and embraced the grass after a 7-5, 6-4 defeat.
She said: “I laughed on the court from the first to the last ball, and it’s a special feeling to faint there. So, yes, it’s hard to handle. “
“Facing a wonderful champion like Simona in my last game, it’s just, yes, on a pitch like that with a crowd like that, I would have signed for that sooner. “
Fourth seed Paula Badosa just 72 minutes to book a third-round match with Petra Kvitova after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Irina Bara.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova a little longer to beat Ana Bogdan 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Badosa is excited about herself in front of the veteran, she said: “Yes, she plays very well on grass.
“She won last week. I also exercise with her on the lawn, so I know what I’m going to notice there. She’s sure of herself, but I think I have the game to make a complicated adjustment opposite to her. I’ll do it my all on the court.
17th seed Elina Rybakina overcame Bianca Andreescu 6-4, 7-6 (5) to finish the former US Open winner’s return to Wimbledon.
Elise Mertens and Barbora Krejcikova were among the seeds to progress.
Several Americans also tasted victory on Thursday, with No. 20 seed Amanda Anisimova winning in 3 sets against compatriot Lauren Davis, while No. 8 seed Jessica Pegula also battled for victory over British challenger Harriet Dart after a decision-maker.
Coco Gauff ended the day with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mihaela Buzarnescu.
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