Iga Swiatek edged closer to the business end of Wimbledon with a defeat of Petra Martic 6-2, 7-5 on Friday, with the top seed duplicating her career best showing on the grass.
The Polish world No. 1 owns three trophies from Roland Garros and won the US Open last September but has never passed the fourth round here.
Swiatek entered the second week after completing her third victory without a loss against her Croat opponent.
The seed got into trouble as she was broken to love for 5-all while serving for the win but earned victory on her second chance as Martic’s drop shot failed to clear the net.
Swiatek will clash next with Belinda Bencic, who defeated Swiatek’s compatriot Magda Linette 6-3, 6-1.
“She’s playing well, and it’s the fourth round of a Slam,” Swiatek said, adding that she was pleased with her effort against Martic.
“I had to focus from start to finish, I”m glad I took the lead in both sets.
“I’m happy I’m doing well on grass, which is the most important thing for me.”
Aryna Sabalenka maintained a near-perfect Grand Slam record this season as she won her 14th match from 15 played.
The second seed who won the Australian Open and reached the Roland Garros semi-finals flirted with disaster as she dropped the opening set but rallied to end with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Varvara Gracheva.
“It was a crazy match, I’m super-happy to win this one,” the 2021 semi-finalist here said.
“I couldn’t find my rhythm but I told myself to keep fighting and try.
“In the third set I was just going for my shots, I felt like I came back in the match. I start feeling better.”
2022 finalist Ons Jabeur excelled in a mere 45 minutes, crushing Chinese opposition in Bai Zhuoxuan 6-1, 6-1. It was a similar story for fourth-seeded American Jessica Pegula, who beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto with the loss of four games in 75 minutes.
Elina Svitolina continued her strong comeback after giving birth last autumn, reaching the second week of play -6 (3), 6-2 over former Australian Open winner and Wimbledon qualifier Sofia Kenin.
Ninth seeded Petra Kvitova concluded an interrupted victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2 with the two-time Wimbledon winner pleased with her form.
“Everybody knows that I like to play on the grass,” the Czech said. “It’s my favorite surface. I love it.
“I’m just happy to get another title this year in Berlin. I’m still happy that I’m still in the draw and playing here.
“Today was pretty hot and sunny. The balls were pretty nicely flying. It got a little bit windy, as well, sometimes.”
Double Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka defeated 11th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-4, taking just 76 minutes to go through.
2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys put out Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-3.
Leisa Tsurenko of Ukraine spent three and three-quarter hours in finally overcoming Ana Bogdan 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (18). It was the longest tiebreaker in women’s Grand Slam history.
Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open winner, defeated Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7).
