‘I had to go to another level’ - Iga Swiatek earns Ostrava Open walkover as Ajla Tomljanovic retires
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Updated 05/10/2022 at 18:46 GMT
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek became the first player to reach the Ostrava Open quarter-finals after Ajla Tomljanovic was forced to retire due to injury. Swiatek won the first set 7-5 but was tested by the Australian who looked sharp after coming through qualifying. In the second set Tomljanovic began struggling with a knee injury that ultimately forced her withdrawal.
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Iga Swiatek returned to the court for the first time since her US Open triumph last month, and advanced to the Ostrava Open quarter-finals with a 7-5 2-2 walkover victory against qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic.
Swiatek and the Australian were engrossed in a tight battle throughout the first set which the three-time grand slam winner eventually took, despite a determined Tomljanovic clawing back a commanding 4-1 Swiatek lead.
It was a fierce start to the second set from both players in which all four games went to deuce, but Tomljanovic began to noticeably struggle with a knee injury during the second game, and eventually called it quits.
After the match, Swiatek was full of praise for her opponent, but in a harsh self-assessment realised she has work to do following a tough return to court.
"We played in Toronto and I saw in the US Open how well Ajla played, it seems she's really on a roll and she's playing better and better,” the top seed said.
“It was a great match and it's unfortunate that something happened, I hope she's going to recover quickly.
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OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - OCTOBER 05: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia suffers a knee injury while playing against Iga Swiatek of Poland during her second round match on Day 3 of the Agel Open at Ostravar Arena on October 05, 2022 in Ostrava, Czech Republic
Image credit: Eurosport
"I've had a three-week break from playing matches, and after such an intense time it seems like a lot.
“I felt like I need to get back to the rhythm, and it wasn't easy. I had a bye, and Ajla already played a few matches. So I felt like I need to catch up.
“But I'm pretty happy this match was so intense, because I feel like I had to go to another level and it's going to prepare me for the next matches."
Swiatek will face either home wild card Karolina Muchova or qualifier Caty McNally in the next round.
Britain’s Harriet Dart was in action on Wednesday and lost her third-round match in straight sets 6-3 6-4 to third seed Alize Cornet, whilst second seed Paula Badosa also suffered a disappointing exit at the hands of Petra Kvitova.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is another name on court on Wednesday evening as she looks to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
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