PARIS (France): Polish teenager Iga Swiatek shocked top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep on Sunday to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old will face Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan.
Swiatek and ranked 54 in the world, triumphed 6-1, 6-2 on the back of 30 winners and not allowing 2018 winner Halep a single break point.
“I am surprised I could do this,” said Swiatek after ending the 17-match winning streak of Halep who was the overwhelming favourite in the absence of 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty and US Open winner Naomi Osaka and the injury-enforced withdrawal of Serena Williams.
It was a stunning turnaround for the Pole who won just one game against Halep at the same stage in Paris last year, getting swept off court in just 45 minutes.
“Last year I wasn’t experienced enough, it was my first match in a big stadium so I was a little stressed, but now I can handle the pressure,” she added.
Swiatek swept through the opening set in just 23 minutes, firing 17 winners to Halep’s four.
The teenager tightened her grip, breaking in the first game of the second set with Halep having to fight off four break points in the third game to stay afloat.
