Winds of change blow on day of upsets at French Open

On a Sunday of upsets at French Open, revenge was a dish served up in an autumnal chill by a Polish teenr.

Against player who humbled her 6-1, 6-0 at same st last year, Iga Swiatek turned tables on top-seeded Simona Halep, sending 2018 champion packing 6-1, 6-2 with powerful groundstrokes and exquisite net play to vance to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Halep, who also lifted title at Wimbledon last year, never got into her stride on Court Philippe Chatrier and was unable to exert any pressure on 19-year-old who wilted with nerves in ir fourth-round meeting last year that was over in just 45 minutes.

Halep lasted just 23 minutes longer this time. She never h a break point against her opponent who racked up 14 against her, breaking her twice in each set and keeping her serve under near-constant stress.

“She was everywhere,” said Halep, who h been on a career-best winning streak of 17 matches. “I will have a chocolate and I will be better tomorrow.”

ding to a sense that winds of change are blowing across women's tennis at this French Open pushed back by coronavirus from its usual May-June spot, Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan ousted fifth-seeded Kiki Bertens moments later, winning 6-4, 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

She tossed her racket in delight after sealing victory with a backhand lob from baseline that her Dutch foe, who'd been serving to stay in match, could only watch as it soared over her he and plopped in.

Swiatek, only teenr who reached fourth round, and Trevisan, one of two qualifiers who got that far, will w play each or in what will be a first Grand Slam quarterfinal for m both.

159th-ranked Trevisan is playing only her second Grand Slam. She was a first-round loser at her first: Australian Open this year.

Swiatek, who also reached fourth round this year at Melbourne Park, has said that having recently passed her school exams, she w wants to fully focus on her tennis, to see wher she should make a career of it or he to university.

Based on evidence so far on clay in Paris, books can wait.

(Im Credit: AP)