Swiatek vs Jeanjean: Things we learned

Eager Iga is going to take some stopping

The 22-year-old broke in the very first game of the match with a world No.1 type of game. The returns pinned Jeanjean back as the Pole capped it off by crushing a forehand return winner to glance the left tramline.

It was a signal of intent.

Break point down at 3-1, Swiatek launched left and swatted a winner to reassert her dominance.

Into the second set and Jeanjean chalked up her own immediate break. Unruffled, Swiatek recalibrated and regained the initiative.

Twenty-six winners and 18 unforced errors won't please the ultimate perfectionist, but it seems that Iga has the answer to any obstacle in Paris.

Swiatek arrived at Roland-Garros on a 12-match winning streak off the back of collecting WTA 1000 titles in Madrid and Rome.

"It feels like home here," she said. "For sure, these last tournaments gave me a lot. I managed to play good tennis in any conditions, in any circumstances, I'm really proud of myself, I don’t want to take anything for granted. Every tournament is a different story, a different chapter and I'll be just focused on the next match."

Serving up progress

Prior to the tournament the top seed suggested the work she's doing on her serve is "going in the right direction."

Since the turn of the year the Pole has been implementing new ways to enhance her delivery in the hope of creating more pop on the ball and better placement.

"Next goal is to keep my serve at a consistent level throughout the whole season," said the 22-year-old during Roland-Garros Media Day. "We'll see how that's going to go. We are working hard for the movement to be smooth and to get muscle memory, so even under the biggest pressure and stress, I'm going to be serving the same way… I feel like I have more options, when I'm serving."

Let's take a look at the stats. Swiatek landed 73 per cent of first serves and won 78 per cent of those points.

The second serve certainly gave Jeanjean an avenue of attack, with the Pole only claiming 50 per cent of those.

Rafa-type record in reach?

Swiatek has already won three titles at Roland-Garros, just one shy of her idol Rafael Nadal's tally at the same age of 22.

The double-defending champion is compiling the kind of dominance in the vein of the 14-time champion, the widely regarded 'King of Clay.'

The top seed is taking it all in her stride, however, when Marion Bartoli hailed her as the 'Queen of Clay' during the on-court interview, Swiatek was keen to play down the new nickname.

"I think it's too early. I'm really proud of my achievements, it's always been my favourite surface for me, it gives me the most pleasure.

"For sure, I'll be watching Rafa's match, but being compared to him, I'm not at that level yet, I still have many things to improve.

"He's a great person, he's a great athlete, he's shown that for many, many years and I'm just at the beginning. I'll do my best to take some lessons from him to be a good person and a good player."

Swiatek's next task is a clash with former world No.1 Naomi Osaka, who the current world No.1 has taken tips from regarding life at the peak.

"I did (learn from Naomi). We had knowledge that it's not easy to be in that place with all the pressure around you. So basically looking at that, I think my team was pretty smart in terms of planning everything well, tennis-wise obviously, but I mean more like from the business side of tennis," Swiatek said.

"Dealing with success is not easy, and I think we did everything really smart, but I don't know how it would be without looking at stories of other players."