DailyExpertNews
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World No. 1 Iga Świątek enjoyed a winning return from injury as she defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-1 6-4 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.
The Polish star had been out of the tour for more than a month after suffering a rib injury at Indian Wells in California and took less than an hour and a half to get past Zheng on Thursday.
Świątek, who is defending her title in Stuttgart in preparation for the French Open next month, broke Zheng’s serve four times over the course of the match.
After going through the opening set, she was tested in the second but secured a crucial break to go 5–4 ahead before holding serve to round out the win.
“I’m quite happy that I’m not rusty and can play tennis well, even though I had a break,” Świątek said after the win.
She then takes on Karolína Plíšková in the quarter-finals, with the former Czech world No. 1 defeating Croatian Donna Vekić 6-2 6-7 7-6 on Thursday.
Świątek will be seeking her third French Open title and fourth grand slam overall when the tournament opens in Paris on May 28.
She had to pull out of the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in recent weeks, but announced before competing in Stuttgart that she is now injury-free.
“I felt like I had to be 100% focused from the beginning to the end… I’m just really happy to be able to play here again and enjoy the whole atmosphere,” Świątek said on Thursday.