Though the scoreline on Thursday looked a lot more assured than in the previous round, it was an improvement for the defending champion on the difficulties of her opener against Taylor Townsend on Tuesday. On Thursday, the former World No.1 from Poland did not concede a set, and there were also no juddering tears of relief. It helped that the pre-match danger threatened by Pliskova\u2019s career-long grass-court smarts materialised only fleetingly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was also a big relief for Swiatek as she held break points in every Pliskova service game. Still, the Pole stacked up 18 unforced errors in this match, at times in unseemly clumps. Any repeat in upcoming rounds could create a disaster, with the quality of opposition improving in the upcoming rounds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling more stable today, and that\u2019s good,\u201d said Swiatek while addressing the Centre Court crowd after her victory. \u201cThe first round was really emotional, but today felt like another day in the office. I needed to be ready, be sharp, and make good decisions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always better when you\u2019re able to think like that. I was consistent and had a good level of focus. I just believed I could be the most solid player on the court. I try to be the best player I can be.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pliskova will surely be disappointed not to have generated more damage. But merely by the fact of playing here again, the 34-year-old was achieving something of a miracle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always better when you\u2019re able to think like that. I was consistent and had a good level of focus. I just believed I could be the most solid player on the court. I try to be the best player I can be.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It left her sufficiently incapacitated that not only was tennis impossible for a while, but merely walking was too. Having started this year ranked No.1,054, she has rocketed back up to No.73 and will be around ten places higher when the new post-Championships rankings are released.<\/p>\r\n\r\n