Did Swiatek Overcome a Tough Challenge to Extend Her Winning Streak at the French Open?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Iga Swiatek continues her impressive winning streak at the French Open.
- The match against Jaqueline Cristian tested Swiatek’s resolve.
- Swiatek’s streak now stands at 24 matches.
- She is on track to challenge Monica Seles' record.
- Future matches may pose significant challenges.
Paris, May 30 (NationPress) World No. 1 Iga Swiatek faced a tough challenge but triumphed once more at Roland Garros. The three-time defending champion secured a victory against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian with a score of 6-2, 7-5, advancing to the fourth round of the French Open for the seventh consecutive year and extending her unbeaten streak at this clay-court Grand Slam to 24 matches.
It wasn’t an easy match for Swiatek. After dominating the first set in just 39 minutes without facing any break points, the Polish player found herself embroiled in a fierce battle in the second set against a motivated Cristian, who recently reached the finals in Rabat, bringing that momentum to Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Swiatek's composure was tested as she saved six break points in the second set, contending with a resilient Cristian who threatened to push the match into a deciding third set. With the second set tied at 5-5 and Cristian just a point away from a tiebreak, Swiatek summoned her strength to break serve and clinch the match in one hour and 54 minutes.
After a challenging afternoon, relief was the dominant emotion for the top seed.
“I'm just happy that I was super solid in the last game and didn't give any free points,” Swiatek stated. “She capitalized on her opportunities and went for it every time I gave her a chance. It was an entertaining match, and I’m pleased with my performance,” she commented, as reported by the WTA Tour.
This victory keeps Swiatek in the running to equal Monica Seles’ record of 25 consecutive wins at the French Open in the Open Era. To match that milestone, she will need to face a significant opponent in the fourth round — either 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina or 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko.
If she faces Ostapenko, history may not be on Swiatek’s side, as she holds a surprising 0-6 record against the Latvian.