Superb Swiatek storms into Wimbledon last 32, Zverev waits / Photo: Adrian Dennis - AFP
Superb Swiatek storms into Wimbledon last 32, Zverev waits
Iga Swiatek put a stuttering start to her Wimbledon title defence firmly behind her by powering to a statement second-round victory over Karolina Pliskova, with Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev in action later Thursday.
Reigning champion Swiatek, who struggled to hold back tears after battling past Taylor Townsend in the first round, was back to her ruthless best in a 6-1, 6-3 dismantling of former world number one Pliskova in 70 minutes.
"For sure the first round was really emotional but today I felt like it's another day at the office, I need to be ready, be sharp," said Swiatek.
The Pole, who has been inconsistent since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club 12 months ago, will face the Philippines' Alexandra Eala, who beat Serena Williams' first-round conqueror Maya Joint.
Pliskova, who returned to the tour this year after a long-term injury absence, was no match for the third seed in a contest reminiscent of their 2021 Italian Open final meeting which Swiatek won 6-0, 6-0.
The 25-year-old Swiatek has reached at least the third round on each of her past 26 Grand Slam appearances since losing in round two at the 2019 US Open.
Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys ended home interest in the women's singles, beating Britain's Katie Swan in straight sets.
Last on Centre Court, 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, bidding to take the world-number-one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka next week, meets American Caty McNally.
Britain's future queen Princess Catherine attended the tournament on Thursday, greeting fans before watching some of the action on Court 18.
- Zverev not thinking about open draw -
Zverev was pushed hard by Belgian youngster Alexander Blockx in his opening match but showed strong resolve to win in four sets.
The German ended his long wait for a maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open last month but has never performed well at Wimbledon.
He has a golden opportunity to at least reach the quarter-finals for the first time at the 10th time of asking, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic in the other half of the draw, and fourth seed Ben Shelton already out of the tournament.
"For me, the draw doesn't really matter, because I have played a top-10 opponent one time in my career here, which was Milos Raonic, in 2017," said Zverev.
"All the other years, I have lost to players outside of the top 10. So it's really about me."
The 29-year-old will be a heavy favourite against Valentin Royer later on Court One, although he was dumped out by another unseeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the first round last year.
American sixth seed Taylor Fritz continued his strong recent record at the All England Club, seeing off compatriot Patrick Kypson 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round.
Fritz has made at least the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in three of the past four years and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the semis 12 months ago.
Fifth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also breezed through with a dominant straight-sets victory over French veteran Adrian Mannarino.
Rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar returned to court in a match delayed by darkness on Wednesday, winning the last two sets to complete a comeback victory over Pablo Carreno Busta.
The Wimbledon debutant had never played a Tour-level match on grass before this week, but has flown up the rankings this year and reached the French Open quarter-finals.
Arthur Fery kept British hopes alive for another couple of days, beating Finland's Otto Virtanen in four sets.
R.Walker--PI
