Roland Garros 2024 Women’s Day 6

Iga Swiatek turned 23 with a move into the French Open fourth round on Friday as the top seed defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2. 

The winner of her last 15 clay matches – including titles in Madrid and Rome – has won 31 of her 33 career matches played at Roland Garros, lifting three trophies along the way.

Swiatek was serenaded by the crowd at her on-court interview after failing to explain exactly what Paris park she had visited on Thursday’s day off.

The top seed needed four match points to get past Bouzkova after the Czech saved one in the penultimate game.

She did it again twice more on Swiatek forehand errors before the Pole landed a backhand for the 90-minute win. 

The fast-paced win stood in contrast to the three hours it took in the previous round for Swiatek to defeat fellow four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.

 “I feel good physically,” she said. “Today’s match was solid. But I’m happy to finish in two sets. For sure, it’s a good thing.”

Coco Gauff repeated a clay win from last month as she put out Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-4 to advance in dry, cloudy conditions after three days of rain 

The third seed backed up a victory over the 30th-rnaked Ukrainian in 94 minutes, with Yastremska saving a match point as Gauff served for victory leading a set and 5-2.

The 20-year-old American closed out victory two games later on her second chance and set up a meeting with Elisabetta Cocciaretto, a 7-6 (4), 6-2 winner over Liudmila Samsonova in the third round.

“It was hard to close it out,’ US Open holder Gauff said. “After playing her in Madrid I knew she could play well from behind (in the score).

“I could have closed it out on my serve but I got unlucky with a few shots. 

“It was difficult but I was able to stay mentally focused and not get too mad at myself.

Cocciaretto is looking forward to her meeting with the seed: “For sure it will be a very, very tough match, she’s one of the best players in the world.

“I think I will enjoy it but try to be aggressive, trying to do my game, and just fight every point.”

Yastremska, a Melbourne semi-finalist in January, was playing past the opening round at Roland Garros for the first time in five appearances.

Fifth-seeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon winner, ended French women’s participation as she dispatched No. 136 wild card Chloe Paquet 6-1, 6-3. 

Eighth seed Ons Jabeur, three times a Slam runner-up, owns a perfect 6-0 record against Canadians after her 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Leylah Fernandez.

Olga Danilovic turned in the performance of her life as the 125th-ranked Serb qualifier broke fresh ground at a Grand Slam with a move into the fourth round.

Danilovic defeated experienced Croat Donna Vekic in a battle of the Balkans, winning 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8) after more than three hours on court.

The 23-year-old outsider who reached the third round here a year ago, trailed a set and 3-1 and just avoided a double break as she saved three break points.

She held tough as Vekic twice served for the match, levelling at a set apiece. With the third set played in the super-tiebreak format, Danilovic recovered from 2-6 down, overhauling Vekic to earn the win 10-8.

Dane Clara Tauson stopped 2020 Paris finalist Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-5.

Main photo:- Iga Swiatek wins third round match – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd