Defending champion Iga Swiatek took a quick and easy route to the quarterfinals of the French Open on Monday. Her opponent, Lesia Tsurenko from Ukraine, retired from the match after feeling unwell.
Switek was leading 4-1 in the first set when Tsurenko called a trainer to check her blood pressure and pulse. After a brief medical timeout, the match resumed, but Tsurenko decided to quit after losing the next game to love.
Tsurenko apologized to Swiatek and explained that she had been dealing with a virus for a few days. Despite his best efforts to prepare for the match, he could not control his deteriorating condition. Tsurenko mentioned having a sore throat and only being able to practice for 10 minutes the previous day. He was sure he needed a few more days to recover.
Switek’s next opponent in the quarterfinals will be American Coco Gauff, setting up a rematch of last year’s final, which Switek won convincingly. Swiatek has spent just four hours on court so far in the tournament, dropping just nine games. She is aiming to win her third French Open title in four years.
Tsurenko, ranked 66th in the world, faced difficulties from the start of the match against Svitek. Despite managing to break back once, his physical condition rapidly deteriorated. She sought the help of a trainer and was allowed to continue playing, but it became clear that she was not at her best and decided to retire.
Switek expressed his disappointment at winning the match in such a manner, but acknowledged the importance of managing his energy throughout the tournament. She feels more prepared and less tired this time around, relying on her experience to handle the demands of a Grand Slam event.
As the defending champion and world number one, Swiatek is expected to reach the quarterfinals at the French Open. However, he joked that reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon would make him extremely happy. Gauff, his next opponent, also booked his place in the quarter-finals with a straight sets victory. Last year, Swietek defeated Gauff in the final to claim the championship title.
