World number one Iga Swiatek celebrated her 23rd birthday in style with an emphatic 6-4 6-2 victory over Marie Bouzkova to move into the last 16 at the French Open on Friday.
Swiatek survived a major scare in the previous round when she saved a match point against Naomi Osaka before sealing a hard-fought victory, but against Bouzkova she picked apart the Czech player's serve with some precision hitting.
The defending champion showed no signs of a hangover from the three-setter with Osaka and consolidated an early break to go 3-1 up in the opening set but Bouzkova fought back from 5-2 down to give the Pole a workout.
However, Swiatek switched gears and carefully constructed her points, using the angles well to make Bouzkova run from one corner of Court Philippe-Chatrier to the other, firing 18 winners in total in the opening set.
The top seed continued to dominate in the second set as she effortlessly turned defence into offence on Bouzkova's serve, breaking twice to race into a 4-0 lead before the Czech managed to get on the board.
Bouzkova saved a match point on her serve but she only delayed the inevitable as Swiatek sealed progress with a searing winner down the line.
Coco Gauff's bid for a maiden French Open title gathered pace after she reached the fourth round with a straight-sets victory over Dayana Yastremska.
The US Open champion, a finalist in Paris in 2022, won 6-2 6-4 to set up a meeting with Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Gauff, 20, squandered a match point at 5-2 in the second set and faced three break points at 5-4.
But she got over the line eventually when Ukrainian Yastremska, the 30th seed, wafted a forehand wide.
"It’s one match at a time," said Gauff. "It’s important to stay in the moment. It’s important to expect great things from yourself but I’m 20 – and I’m hoping to be playing for another 10 years or so."
Cocciaretto, had earlier knocked out 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 7-6 (4) 6-2.
"I played her in Dubai this year and she’s definitely a fighter," added Gauff.
"It’s not an easy match, she’s one of those players who doesn’t give up until you shake hands. It’ll be a difficult match but I’m ready."
Sixth seed Ons Jabeur came through a tough encounter with Leylah Fernandez 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist, admits she is still dreaming of that elusive first grand slam title.
"I believe that anything is possible," said the 29-year-old Tunisian. "I started this tournament playing match-by-match because I do not want to start thinking of the final.
"I just want to see how things go, but I'm a dreamer. I’ve always said it. I am a dreamer. I’m a believer.
"I’ll keep playing match-by-match for that second week. It’s a completely new week that is about to start, and I hope it’s going to work for me."
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