Poland’s Iga Swiatek opened her first Olympics campaign with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mona Barthel of Germany at the Tokyo Games on Saturday.
Swiatek, 20, broke Barthel six times in the one hour, seven minute match at Ariake Tennis Park.
2021 French Open champ Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic also advanced after her opponent, Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, retired while trailing 5-2 in the opening set.
In other action, Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who finished runner-up to Krejcikova at Roland Garros, opened with a blistering 6-0, 6-1 win over Sara Errani of Italy. Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic eliminated Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3, and Czech Marketa Vondrousova upset Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, the No. 16 seed, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The world’s top three players, Ashleigh Barty of Australia, Naomi Osaka of Japan and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, all begin their Olympic campaigns on Sunday.
BNP Paribas Poland Open
Kristina Kucova of Slovakia cruised past Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-0, 6-3 to reach the final in Gdynia, Poland.
Kucova won 20 of 23 points on her first serve. Korpatsch struggled with eight double faults.
The other semifinal pits Maryna Zanevska of Belgium against Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine.
–Field Level Media