Somewhat worryingly for her peers – all whom have dropped at least one set – Swiatek conceded just 14 games in her first five matches, the fewest since Maria Sharapova dropped just nine games en route to the AO 2013 semis.
Swiatek and Navarro – born just 13 days apart – charted contrasting paths to the quarters: the Pole lost 11 games in her first four matches, amassing a total of four hours and 30 minutes on court. In her second AO, Navarro spent 10 hours and 14 minutes on court battling through three sets in all of her first four matches, becoming the first player to do so since Jelena Dokic in 2009.
Swiatek, whose racquet swinging during the coin toss is reminiscent of her idol Rafael Nadal, broke Navarro to love in the…