Swiatek celebrates birthday with routine win
Iga Swiatek marked her 23rd birthday with a straight-sets victory over Marie Bouzkova at the French Open, maintaining her charge for a third successive Roland-Garros title.
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Swiatek was pushed all the way by Naomi Osaka in her second-round match, but she enjoyed a far more serene outing on Court Philippe-Chatrier in the third round.
The world No.1 raced to a 6-4 6-2 win as Bouzkova struggled to match her heavy-hitting, and she could even afford to surrender one of her two breaks at the tail end of the opener.
Swiatek broke immediately at the start of the second set, setting the tone for a powerful finish to the match, her victory fittingly sealed with a thumping forehand up the line.
She will face Anastasia Potapova next up after the Russian overcame Wang Xinyu in three sets.
Since the WTA rankings were first published in 1975, only two world No.1s have won a match at Roland Garros on their birthday, Justine Henin in 2007 and now Swiatek.
The Pole is also the only player this century to reach the fourth round of the women's draw on each of her first six French Open appearances.