World No. 1 Iga Swiatek rides a 25-match winning streak into the Rome quarterfinals vs. Bianca Andreescu.
The first time Iga Swiatek met Bianca Andreescu on court it was a confidence builder.
When the pair square off for the first time as pros in the Rome quarterfinals on Friday, Andreescu will try to play streak buster.
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World No. 1 Swiatek set up the clash of Grand Slam champions "winning ugly" against former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, 6-4, 6-1 today.
Reigning Rome champion Swiatek recalls her lone junior match vs. Andreescu as one that strengthened self-belief.
"I remember it was really tight. I remember it was Junior Fed Cup," Swiatek said. "It was kind of a breakthrough match for me because after that we beat Canada, we played against Russia and States. It was the first match I actually felt that I can do it and I can win with anybody, because she was also playing really solid game at that time."
"I remember I just was really proud of myself, yeah."
The 21-year-old Andreescu saved six of seven break points stopping Petra Martic 6-4, 6-4 in one hour, 43 minutes today.
Andreescu, who took down 10th-seeded Emma Raducanu in an opening-round clash of US Open champions, said this quarterfinal duel is a dream come true.
“I’m definitely very excited,” Andreescu told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “I usually don’t look at the draw before I play, but my coach before the first round said who do you want to play?
“I said is it Iga? And they’re like no. And actually, my second guess was Emma because I wanted to play both of them so I guess both of my dreams are coming true so I’m very excited.”
Photo credit: Getty
