Iga Swiatek Survives Scare To Begin Gold Medal Bid With Begu Victory

Iga Swiatek began her mission for gold with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Irina-Camelia Begu.

The world number one did have to endure a tough test from the Romanian as Swiatek went from an early break up to losing the next two game with the score at 2-2 in the opening set.

There was also a threat from Begu as she used her clay court experience to cause the Pole problems.

However, Swiatek’s maturity prevailed as she produced world-class tennis when it really mattered to win four games in a row and clinch the opening set.

In the second set Swiatek continued to apply consistent returning pressure on Begu as the Pole created two break points in the fourth game.

Surprisingly, Swiaek was strangely inefficient and continued to produce erratic unforced errors as the set went on.

A careless service game in the seventh game saw Begu break for a 4-3 lead as the Romanian edged closer to the second set.

The world number 136 never really looked like winning the set though as Swiatek was world-class towards the end of the match, converting her fourth break point to level the set at 5-5.

Swiatek was calm and collected as her Paris dream continued by breaking to love to move into the second round where she will play Nadia Podoroska or Diane Parry.

There was also a win for Roland Garros finalist Jasmine Paolini as she overcame a first set scare to defeat Ana Bogdan 7-5 6-3.