REIGNING CHAMPION IGA Swiatek returned to her brilliant best in a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of former world number one Karolina Pliskova in the Wimbledon second round on Thursday.
The Polish third seed, who suffered a shock last-16 exit from the French Open last month, was tearful after a scrappy opening win over Taylor Townsend.
But she made short work of a potentially tricky tie against 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Pliskova on Centre Court, racing into a 4-0 lead and never looking back.
“More stable and that’s good,” Swiatek said when asked to compare her performance to her first-round showing.
“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.
“It’s always better when you’re able to do that.”
Swiatek will next face Serena Williams’ first-round conqueror Maya Joint or Filipina 29th seed Alexandra Eala for a place in the second week at the All England Club.
The 25-year-old 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.
Only Martina Navratilova and Conchita Martinez have enjoyed longer such runs at the Slams in the Open era.
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After failing to even hold serve in the first set, Pliskova threatened some resistance when she moved 2-0 up in the second, but that proved a false dawn for the Czech as Swiatek reeled off six of the next seven games.
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova came back from a break down in the third set to beat Sofia Kenin in a deciding tie-break.
Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys ended home interest in the women’s singles, beating Britain’s Katie Swan in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, stepped up her bid to take the world-number-one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka next week with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 rout of American Caty McNally.
Rybakina meets Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens for a place in the last 16.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev swept into the Wimbledon third round with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win against Valentin Royer.
Bidding to become the seventh man in the Open era to win back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles, Zverev dispatched the French world number 75 in impressive style on Court One.
Zverev was pushed hard by Belgian youngster Alexander Blockx in his opening match, but Royer was no match for the imperious German.
The 29-year-old 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 knocked out.
“If I keep playing like this I definitely think it can happen this year,” said Zverev.
“In tennis you need to have a short-term memory, whether it’s good or bad.
“I won the French Open, which, for me, I’ve been waiting for that Grand Slam for such a long time… Two weeks later we’re here at Wimbledon and it’s such a short turnaround.”
After losing the opening game of the first set, Zverev reeled off a blistering run of nine successive games.
Zverev was in complete command as he secured his 50th Tour-level match-win on grass.
The second seed, who has appeared in four Grand Slam finals, will face American world number 92 Marcos Giron in the last 32.
Meanwhile, 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.
Former runner-up Matteo Berrettini defeated French number one Arthur Fils in four sets, while this year’s Roland Garros losing finalist Flavio Cobolli also progressed.
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Wimbledon latest: Swiatek sees off Pliskova, Zverev routs Royer
LAST UPDATE | 2 Jul
REIGNING CHAMPION IGA Swiatek returned to her brilliant best in a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of former world number one Karolina Pliskova in the Wimbledon second round on Thursday.
The Polish third seed, who suffered a shock last-16 exit from the French Open last month, was tearful after a scrappy opening win over Taylor Townsend.
But she made short work of a potentially tricky tie against 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Pliskova on Centre Court, racing into a 4-0 lead and never looking back.
“More stable and that’s good,” Swiatek said when asked to compare her performance to her first-round showing.
“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.
“It’s always better when you’re able to do that.”
Swiatek will next face Serena Williams’ first-round conqueror Maya Joint or Filipina 29th seed Alexandra Eala for a place in the second week at the All England Club.
The 25-year-old 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.
Only Martina Navratilova and Conchita Martinez have enjoyed longer such runs at the Slams in the Open era.
After failing to even hold serve in the first set, Pliskova threatened some resistance when she moved 2-0 up in the second, but that proved a false dawn for the Czech as Swiatek reeled off six of the next seven games.
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova came back from a break down in the third set to beat Sofia Kenin in a deciding tie-break.
Former Australian Open champion Madison Keys ended home interest in the women’s singles, beating Britain’s Katie Swan in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, stepped up her bid to take the world-number-one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka next week with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 rout of American Caty McNally.
Rybakina meets Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens for a place in the last 16.
– Zverev routs Royer –
French Open champion Alexander Zverev swept into the Wimbledon third round with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win against Valentin Royer.
Bidding to become the seventh man in the Open era to win back-to-back Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles, Zverev dispatched the French world number 75 in impressive style on Court One.
Zverev was pushed hard by Belgian youngster Alexander Blockx in his opening match, but Royer was no match for the imperious German.
The 29-year-old 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 knocked out.
“If I keep playing like this I definitely think it can happen this year,” said Zverev.
“I won the French Open, which, for me, I’ve been waiting for that Grand Slam for such a long time… Two weeks later we’re here at Wimbledon and it’s such a short turnaround.”
After losing the opening game of the first set, Zverev reeled off a blistering run of nine successive games.
Zverev was in complete command as he secured his 50th Tour-level match-win on grass.
The second seed, who has appeared in four Grand Slam finals, will face American world number 92 Marcos Giron in the last 32.
Meanwhile, 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.
Former runner-up Matteo Berrettini defeated French number one Arthur Fils in four sets, while this year’s Roland Garros losing finalist Flavio Cobolli also progressed.
– © AFP 2026
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Grand Slam Iga Swiatek Karolina Pliskova Sw19 Tennis Wimbledon wimbledon 2026