Schmied-over for Anna Karolina as Pole produces historic win
POLAND has its first Olympic medal in tennis after world number one Iga Swiatek overpowered Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova to win the bronze medal.
Not even needing an hour to defeat Schmiedlova, Swiatek again proved why she has been so dominant on clay for so long, winning 6-2, 6-1.
Swiatek dominanted the service winners 15 to four, but also served more aces and less double faults than Schmiedlova. As a result, Swiatek had a much better first serve percentage, and dominanted points won off her first serve.
Winning on Court Philippe Chatrier is nothing new for the Pole, who has won four French Opens in the last five years and is now at 40 wins and three losses overall at Roland Garros.
Meanwhile it has still been a week to remember for Schmiedlova despite the heartbreak of this result. She beat Top 10 players in back to back matches for the first time in her career, and she reached deeper into the tournament than she ever had at any previous French Open.
WOMEN’S SINGLES – BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-2 6-1
Meanwhile in the women’s doubles semi-finals, the gold medal will be going to either Italy or the AIN after victories in their respective semi finals.
In the first of the semi-finals to take place, the Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini proved too strong for Czech pair Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova, winning 6-3 6-2.
In a match that lasted not much longer than an hour, despite the Czech’s having a better second serve, crucially it was the Italians who had a better first serve percentage and converted all their break point chances, which the Czech pair could not do.
In the other semi-final, Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider proved that seeding is nothing more than a number after toppling the eighth seeds Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets.
In a match that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes, despite the AINs serving the only double fault of the match, they still had a better first serve percentage, and comfortably won the service winners stat. They also dominated the break points converted, converting 63 per cent of their chances compared to the Spaniards’ 17 per cent.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES – SEMI FINAL RESULTS
[3] S. Errani/J. Paolini (ITA) defeated L. Muchova/L. Noskova (CZE) 6-3 6-2
M. Andreeva/D. Shnaider (AIN) defeated C. Bucsa/S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 6-1 6-2
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