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| Top seed Simona Halep is out of the French Open after losing to Iga Swiatek in the fourth round in just 68 minutes |
Top seed Simona Halep made no excuses after going down tamely to Polish teenager Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the French Open on Sunday, instead crediting her opponentโs level of play in the 6-1 6-2 thrashing.
At the same stage at Roland Garros last year, Halep defeated Swiatek 6-1 6-0 in 45 minutes, but the 19-year-old turned the tables spectacularly on Sunday to end the Romanianโs 17-match winning streak.
โAll the credit to her, she played unbelievable today and she was everywhere and she hit all the balls in very strong, very powerful,โ world number two Halep, who won the French Open in 2018, told reporters.
โIt was a little bit cold and I couldnโt be at my best, but she played really well and her match was like, no, it was her match today.โ
Halep was a strong favourite to win a third Grand Slam in Paris but Swiatek gave her no chance to stage a comeback during the 68-minute mauling.
The Romanian, 29, did not manage a single breakpoint on the serve of Swiatek, who peppered the Court Philippe Chatrier with 30 winners.
Halep said she was not surprised, however.
โBecause everyone at this level is playing really well and in the fourth round of a Grand Slam itโs not a surprise any more, because if you are there it means that you have a great game,โ she said.
โFor sure I could have done something different, like playing more balls in and trying to push her back, but itโs all I had today and I couldnโt make something better,โ Halep said.
โShe really dominated the match and was really aggressive. Maybe the third match will be better, but itโs OK, Iโll take it.โ
Halep won the last three tournaments she played and said she was happy to have been able to play the French Open amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
โI realise that it was a fantastic year with all.โ
Highlights of the eighth day at the French Open on Sunday (all times GMT):
1415 PODOROSKA SEALS COMEBACK WIN
Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska rallied from a set down to beat Czech Barbora Krejcikova 2-6 6-2 6-3.
1410 SINNER STUNS ZVEREV TO SET UP NADAL CLASH
Italian teenager Jannik Sinner struck 39 winners as he produced a shock 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3 win over Germanyโs sixth seed Alexander Zverev.
Sinner, playing in his first Roland Garros main draw, will next face 12-times champion Rafa Nadal.
1400 SVITOLINA EASES INTO QUARTERS
Third seed Elina Svitolina broke local favourite Caroline Garciaโs serve six times en route to a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win.
1235 NADAL BREEZES INTO ANOTHER QUARTER-FINAL
Defending champion Rafa Nadal faced little resistance from American qualifier Sebastian Korda as the Spaniard claimed a 6-1 6-1 6-2 win in just under two hours.
Nadal has reached the Roland Garros quarter-finals without dropping a set for the eighth time.
REUTERS
