Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Former world number one Iga Swiatek raced into the Toronto Masters semi-finals on Monday, taking just 64 minutes to sweep past Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1.
Poland’s Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will face either Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina or Russia’s seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Wednesday for a place in the final. Swiatek, 25, has not reached a final since winning her 26th WTA tour title at the Korea Open in Seoul almost a year ago, and has tumbled down the rankings to world number eight.
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Swiatek dropped only three points on her first serve and took 11 of 16 points returning Shnaider’s second serves. Shnaider, a left-hander, swatted a backhand over the baseline to surrender a break in the opening game. Swiatek took a 5-2 lead, breaking again when Shnaider netted a backhand, and served out to take the first set in 31 minutes.
Swiatek broke for a 2-1 lead in the second when Shnaider netted a forehand. She smashed a forehand winner to break a second time for a 4-1 advantage and again in the final game when Shnaider sent a forehand long.
© 2024 AFP
