Świątek started the competition in London with two confident victories — first against Lin Zhu 6:1, 6:3, and then against Sara Sorribes Tormo 6:2, 6:0. Martić, on the other hand, had more problems. In her first match, she won after Linda Fruhvirtova retired in the third set (when leading 4:1), and in the second she defeated Diane Parry 2:1 (4:6, 6:3, 6:3).
The Croatian entered Friday’s match better, first winning a service game and then getting two break points. The Raszynian managed to withstand her opponent’s pressure and tied the score. A moment later, the ranking leader broke her opponent. However, the Pole did not have the opportunity to enjoy her advantage for too long, because in the next set, Martić made up for the loss and the scoreboard showed a tie again
Another breakthrough. Iga Świątek escapes with the result
However, this was not the end of the series of breaks. In the fifth game, Świątek again took her opponent’s serve, which allowed her to take the lead again. At this point, Martić was no longer able to respond effectively. The Pole increased her advantage to 4:2, and shortly after, by breaking the Croatian on her serve, she came within one game of winning the set.
Martić tried to fight back, but in the end, at the second set point, she had to accept defeat in the first game. At the start of the second set, she had to defend a break point. She managed to do so and the first game of the second set went to the 32-year-old from Split.
Iga Świątek achieved her goal, but it was tense
It was similar in the next service game of the Croatian, in which Świątek once again took the lead 40:30. Once again, however, the Pole had to do without. She achieved her goal only at 3:3, when she did not allow her opponent to score even a point on the serve, and brought the match to 4:3.
