Iga Świątek returns to competition. We know the Polish woman's next rival in Beijing

Iga Świątek's next rival will be Croatian Donna Vekić.

Iga Świątek returned to competition

Świątek's first match after almost a month's break lasted 88 minutes. She previously performed on the court during the US Open.

The 28-year-old Gao is 244th in the world ranking (her highest was 125th), and the Pole - seeded number eight, winner of the 2023 event - is ninth.

This difference was not very visible on the court at the beginning of the match, because the hosts' representative played ambitiously and bravely, and the favorite was gaining momentum slowly. However, the 25-year-old from Raszyn was in full control of the situation on the court and won the first game 6:2.

In the second set, the Pole secured the advantage after breaking in the third game, and her success was sealed when her opponent served in the ninth game.

Iga Świątek: It was a good start

It was a good start, a good start after a long break. I'm glad I'm here, I'm glad I could get back into the game and feel the court, especially since a lot of balls were coming back to my side. I think that by winning the next matches I will gain confidence, but for now I am focusing on the next match - said Świątek.

Iga Świątek - Donna Vekić in the 1/16 finals

Coach Francisco Roig's team will fight Donna Vekić in the 1/8 finals. On Saturday, seeded 30th, the Croatian defeated another Chinese tennis player — Lin Zhu 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

Świątek from Vekić, who is currently in 40th position in the WTA ranking, has competed four times so far and has achieved all victories. However, the last time they played against each other was in the spring of 2023.

The former world ranking leader is the last Polish tennis player to participate in the tournament in Beijing. Katarzyna Kawa and Magda Linette were eliminated in the 1st round of the event, and Maja Chwalińska and Magdalena Fręch in the 2nd round.

Match result of the 2nd round: