San Diego Open: Iga Swiatek prevails against Zheng Qinwen and reaches the quarterfinals

Swiatek's last appearance was at the Ostrava final, where she faced a staggering defeat against Barbora Krejnicova. But we saw a glimpse of her top form during her three-setter match against Zheng. 

The win marks her tour-leading 61st victory of the year, and she will now play her 12th quarterfinal of the season. She disclosed her thoughts on the match and appreciated her opponent's style.

"Qinwen, she has a different game style because she's playing topspin on her forehand and the ball is flying pretty high. So today I had to adjust to that," she said. 

After a brief rain delay, Swiatek exhibited power at the baseline and weathered Zheng's threatening pace. She saved a break point and countered the move with a clean forehand return at 4-4.

She served for the opener and won the set. She hit 11 winners to Zheng's six and reduced Zheng's chances. She faced five break points in the second set but met all of them at 5-4.

Zheng comfortably broke Swiatek's serve in the next game and set up a decider that marked Swiatek's third consecutive three-set match. Zheng found a chance to break in the third set at 1-0, but Swiatek smashed an ace to deny her opponent. 

Swiatek broke Zheng to lead 2-1 and replicated the feat again to ease herself into the next round. This season, the world number one is now 14-4 in three-set matches. 

She has not suffered an opening-round defeat since 2021 Cincinnati, more than a year ago. Swiatek won the Indian Wells, Miami, and the US Open to acquire a 21-1 record in the United States this season.

Coco Gauff outlasts Bianca Andreescu to advance to the last eight

Sixth-seeded Coco Gauff outclassed Canada's Bianca Andreescu on Thursday and entered the quarterfinals of the San Diego Open. In a match lasting two and a half hours, Gauff defeated Andreescu 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 despite making six double faults.

Gauff's stunning display of four aces paired with her first serve win accuracy helped her seal the match. She won five break points, one more than the number of times she was counter-broken. 

Gauff will now face world number one Iga Swiatek, the Polish player who won a three-setter against China's Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Meanwhile, Madison Keys thrashed number eight Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-4, 6-3. 

Third-seeded Aryna Sabalenka dispatched Sloane Stephens 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a two-hour-long match. Number two seed Paula Badosa of Spain overcame American Louisa Chirico 6-0, 6-3.

Second-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine bested Belgium's Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal match at Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Number four, Russian Anastasia Potapova secured a victory against Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland 6-2, 6-3. Number seven, Xiyu Wang took three hours and 26 minutes to beat Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (6).