Swiatek survives Rybakina: “I needed that kind of win”

And a menacing last-16 clash against either Rybakina or bogey opponent Jelena Ostapenko loomed when the main-draw brackets were unveiled, something Australian legend Todd Woodbridge circled as a significant test.

"If Iga does get through whoever she plays there, then she becomes the favourite [for Roland Garros]. Because that is a key moment in building confidence,” he said on last week’s episode of The Tennis.

"That round is going to kind of define what we might see in the rest of the tournament."

Early on Monday it seemed Rybakina was the player destined to continue her path through the draw. The 2022 Wimbledon champion played a flawless first set, holding two set points for a 6-0 demolition before Swiatek finally managed to get on the board.

In the second set Rybakina led by an early break, but started losing momentum when she botched a high volley in the third game, and more so when she failed to convert three break points in an epic fifth game.

At the same stage Swiatek, once reluctant to follow coach Wim Fissette’s advice to move back and allow herself more time to retrieve powerful opponents’ strikes, finally embraced the idea.

This paid off; she was able to extend rallies, and eventually overran Rybakina thanks to her superior physicality, consistency and determination.

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