I am being continuously surprised by the quality of Iga Swiatek’s performances. I mentioned in one of my last blogs how she hasn’t really been taken close in a set of tennis in Paris and that continued yesterday as she mauled qualifier, Nadia Podoroska. It was complete domination and to think the 6/2 6/1 scoreline includes the first set where she wasn’t really serving consistently. Podoroska pretty much admitted to being outplayed here but that doesn’t take away what a great three weeks it has been for the Argentine. For Swiatek, when will the nerves kick in? Will there be any at all? There haven’t been so far. She said the French was the slam where she thought she would make her breakthrough and she was right! She is also in doubles still, which is working well for her ‘off day’. A nice way to keep your ‘eye in’.

In the blustery, slow conditions Petra Kvitova was always going to be up against it when she took on Sofia Kenin. The American posted by far her best effort of the championships and it’s a pretty decent time to be hitting form. She had to serve for it twice in her 6/4 7/5 win but aside from that, it was decent. She varied her play well and took her breakpoints chances. That is how the match was won and lost in essence. I don’t think many people at the start of the year would have had Kenin down for winning one slam this season, let alone two.

The pair have yet to meet on the tour and the Pole will go off at a general 4/7 with firms. On that basis, there is only one person you can back here. I think I will just watch though if I’m honest. It is not hard to see why Swiatek is jolly, its just difficult to know if there will be any hiccups in the home straight.

On another note, it has annoyed me that Pablo Carreno Busta has made a big song and dance over the Djokovic injury. It just stinks of sour grapes. If he felt that passionately about Nole ‘faking’ the injury then maybe he should have had a word with him at the net instead of having a pop in the press conference. I am not Djokovic’s biggest fan but the media and certain players are making everything he does into a major issue. It is as if they are so frightened that he will pass Fedal in the grand slam tally. I am starting to hope he does!

Andy Del Potro