Wimbledon: Swiatek into third round with routine win over Martic

Iga Swiatek underlined her status as favourite in the women's draw at Wimbledon by beating Petra Martic in straight sets on Thursday to reach the third round.

The world number one, who has never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals at SW19, was a 6-4 6-3 victor in one hour and 20 minutes on Centre Court.

Martic held her own until the 10th game of the opening set but the first break point she gave up was converted by Swiatek, who came through strong pressure in several games on her own serve.

The second set followed a similar pattern, Swiatek needing two break points this time as she made the breakthrough eight games in.

Martic was a beaten player from there as Swiatek served out her final game to love, a crashing forehand winner teeing up three match points, and a big serve on the first giving world number 79 Martic no chance.

Data Debrief: Swiatek replicates Serena run

Swiatek has now won 21 consecutive matches as world number one, the longest such streak by any player on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams had an identical run between the 2014 WTA Finals and the 2015 Madrid Open.

21 - Iga Swiatek has become the first player to win more than 20 consecutive matches as World No. 1 since Serena Williams between the WTA Finals 2014 and Madrid 2015. Reigning.#Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/0Z4D3SrWOq
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 4, 2024

She has also made at least the round of 32 at 18 consecutive grand slams.

In the Open Era, only Martina Navratilova (35), Conchita Martinez (30), Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (25) and Steffi Graf (19) have ever done so at more majors in a row.