This was Swiatek’s first match since her US Open win. It was a tight fight with Tomljanovic until the Australian started ailing in the second set and was clutching her knee. She eventually announced she was retiring from the match.
Post-match, Swiatek said: “I’ve had a three-week break from playing matches, and after such an intense time it seems like a lot. I felt like I need to get back to the rhythm, and it wasn’t easy.”
“I had a bye, and Ajla already played a few matches. So I felt like I need to catch up. But I’m pretty happy this match was so intense because I feel like I had to go to another level and it’s going to prepare me for the next matches.”
Swiatek will next face Caty McNally.
Home favorite Kvitova scored her third win against a Top 5 player this season. She won in straight sets against Paula Badosa in the second round.
“The whole match, every game was very, very tight,” Kvitova said after the match. “It was really about a few points. Paula really played great. It was really tough to break each other, but in the second set, we did it a few times.
“I had to really close it out with good serves because, otherwise, she put everything back in the last few games. It was really difficult physically, and mentally as well.”
She will next face Elena Rybakina tomorrow.
Also through to the quarterfinals are Tereza Martincova and Ekaterina Alexandrova who will battle each other.