Iga Swiatek faced down a trial of physical and mental strength last night to reach her first Wimbledon quarter-final and answer some of the questions about whether she is ready to compete for the title in SW19.
Holding off two match points to win in three sets over three hours, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-3, Swiatek had to wrestle not only with her own game, as she continues to adapt to playing on grass, but also an opponent in Belinda Bencic who is comfortable on the surface, has a mean backhand, and rose to the occasion on Centre Court.
After losing the first set on a tiebreak, the turning point came at 5-6 in the second. A combination of bad play and Bencic's assertiveness, a microcosm of the match to that point, had given the Swiss No 14 seed two break points. But in the moment when she needed it most Swiatek was able to raise her game; first finding a low forehand drive, then one off the backhand to pull to deuce before serving out for 6-6.
After winning the second-set tiebreak, Swiatek broke early in the third and methodically ground her way to victory. It was not always pretty but it was effective under real pressure.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 10, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 10, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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