Iga Świątek won a thrilling match against Taylor Townsend on 18 Jun, advancing to the second round of Wimbledon with a 1-6, 6-2, 3-6 win. The defending champion survived a brilliant fightback from the American.
What happened?
The match started with Townsend holding serve in the opening game. Świątek then broke Townsend's serve to go 3-1 up, extending her lead with an overhead volley attempt by Townsend that narrowly bounced out.
Why it matters for Iga Świątek
Świątek's win is significant as she looks to defend her title at Wimbledon. The Polish player had won the ladies' singles title last year with a double bagel, winning 6-0, 6-0.
What comes next?
Świątek will face her next opponent in the second round, looking to continue her winning streak. The world number three has shown her skills and determination in the match against Townsend.
The first set was dominated by Świątek, who won all of her net points and broke Townsend's serve for a third time to claim the set 6-1. However, Townsend hit back early in the second set, breaking Świątek's serve to go 1-0 up.
Świątek struggled with double faults in the second set, switching her racket after her fourth double fault. Despite this, she took the fifth game, but Townsend responded immediately to hold serve and move to within a game of winning the second set.
The deciding set was intense, with both players fighting for every point. Świątek eventually held serve to go 2-1 up, but Townsend pulled the set back to 2-2, bringing loud cheers from the crowd.
Świątek remained composed and moved a couple of games clear, with an elegant backhand shot that was returned into the net by Townsend. The Polish player's win was a testament to her skills and experience, and she will look to build on this momentum in the next round.
The match was a thrilling display of tennis, with both players showing their skills and determination. Świątek's win was a significant one, and she will look to continue her winning streak in the next round.