Iga Swiatek needed to work hard in her second-round match at Wimbledon on Thursday. The Pole needed two hours and four minutes and three sets – 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 – to beat lucky loser, Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove of the Netherlands.
Swiatek struggled from the outset and went down a break to her opponent in the first set. However, from trailing 2-4 in the set, Swiatek won the next four games in a row to take the opener. Despite taking the lead in the match, Swiatek still didn’t look comfortable in the match and her shots were wayward which gave Pattinama Kerkhove ample opportunities to capitalise on. On the other hand, the biggest let down for Pattinama Kerkhove on her game was the points she was able to win off her second serves. In the end, Swiatek was able to turn this to her advantage decisively and claim the win for herself.
Both players won a near-similar percentage of first-serve points – Swiatek won 68% while her opponent finished with 70%. But where the top seed won 52% of her second-serve points, Pattinama Kerkhove won merely 27% of her second-serve points.
In terms of winners and unforced errors, Swiatek hit 31 winners and unforced errors each while her opponent had 15 winners and 22 unforced errors.
Wimbledon: No letting up in Iga Swiatek’s domination
This was Swiatek’s 37th win on the go. Next up for the Pole, who’s seeking a place in the fourth round is Alize Cornet. The Frenchwoman beat Claire Liu, 6-3, 6-3 in their round-of-64 match.
Meanwhile, in their second-round clash, Katie Boulter took out sixth seed and the defending Wimbledon finalist, Karolina Pliskova. The Briton, who received a main draw wildcard, won 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in an hour and 57 minutes.
This is the first time in her career that the 118th-ranked Boulter’s reached the third round at Wimbledon or a Slam for that matter. She will Harmony Tan next. The French player ousted the 32nd-seeded Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-3, 6-4 in their second-round match.
Photo Credit: AELTC/Ben Solomon
