Halep gains revenge on Swiatek, plays Serena in quarters

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates winning her fourth round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Simona Halep exacted revenge on French Open champion Iga Swiatek with a comeback three-set victory Sunday, setting up a blockbuster quarterfinal with Serena Williams at the Australian Open.

The world number two was thrashed by the 19-year-old at Roland Garros, winning just three games, but turned the tide 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 50 minutes at a crowd-less Rod Laver Arena.

“I knew she would hit strong, but after the first set I tried to make her run and she started to miss,” said Halep, who hit 19 winners.

Halep now faces 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who she beat in the 2019 Wimbledon final.

“It’s always tough to think about playing her,” she said. “I will try to enjoy myself and I can only beat Serena if I play my best.”

Halep was aggressive early, but 15th seed Swiatek showcased remarkable defensive skills, thwarting the attacks with sliding retrievals along the baseline.

The Romanian rued squandering two break points in the seventh game and she then played a loose service game to hand the initiative to an increasingly confident Swiatek, who claimed her 21st consecutive set in a Grand Slam.

Halep, whose seven-year streak in the top 10 is the longest active run among women, lifted her intensity and relentlessly hit the lines to force a ragged Swiatek into errors.

The 2018 French Open Champion put the foot down to run through the second set, the first Swiatek had lost since falling to Victoria Azarenka in the third round of last year’s US Open.

Swiatek’s confidence was dented and she lost her serve in the third set’s opening game with a double fault, but fought back to level up with a break in the fourth game.

She was unable to consolidate, dropping serve to love, as Halep calmly clinched a quarterfinal berth.

Halep, 29, is seeking a maiden triumph at Melbourne Park having fallen short to Caroline Wozniacki in the 2018 decider.

She was left stunned last year after a straight-sets loss to Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals.