Defending champion Simona Halep needed just 45 minutes to dispatch Polish teenager Iga Swiatek and progress into the French Open quarterfinals where she’ll face another unseeded opponent, world No.51 Amanda Anisimova.
After Madison Keys and Ashleigh Barty set up the first quarterfinal in the top half of the draw earlier on Monday, the third-seeded Halep took Court Philippe Chatrier to record her best victory at the tournament so far, breaking every service game of the 18-year-old high schooler, 6-1 6-0.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Swiatek can leave Paris more than satisfied, as her ranking will soar over 40 spots from the current No.104 and she reached the fourth round while playing only her second Grand Slam at the senior level. Before facing the claycourt master, Swiatek stated:
Playing against Halep is one of my dreams. I have nothing to lose, so no pressure or anything. It’s a great experience, all of it.
The reigning junior Wimbledon champion then laughingly added:
Even losing would be nice.
Halep’s quarterfinal opponent will be another teenager, 17-year-old American Amanda Anisimova, who never dropped serve en route to her 6-3 6-0 fourth-round victory over Spain’s Aliona Bolsova, even though her 137th-ranked opponent had eight break points.
The women’s quarterfinal pairs are all set now:
Madison Keys [14] vs. Ashleigh Barty [8]
Simona Halep [3] vs. Amanda Anisimova
Sloane Stephens [7] vs. Johanna Konta [26]
Marketa Vondrousova vs. Petra Martic [31]
