Defending champ Swiatek holds off Kostyuk to reach last eight in Paris

Iga Swiatek (POL) in action during her match against Marta Kostyuk - Reuters 

PARIS (Reuters): Defending champion Iga Swiatek held off a fierce challenge from Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk to reach the French Open quarterfinals with a 6-3 6-4 victory on Monday.

The eighth-seeded Pole has now won 22 consecutive sets at Roland Garros going into her clash with Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari as she bids to become the first woman to retain the Roland Garros title since Justine Henin in 2007.

Against an 18-year-old opponent who threw everything at her, Swiatek kept her composure on an empty court Philippe Chatrier, with fans not allowed to attend due to Paris’s 9 p.m. COVID-19 curfew.

“There were so many differences (from a day match),” said Swiatek.

“It was hard for me to adapt. The lights are really bright, and I had to adjust, sometimes I was facing the lights when I had to smash, it was hard,” Kostyuk added.