Iga Swiatek opens up on 'perfect' partnership with Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig after reaching French Open third round

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Iga Swiatek said her partnership with Rafael Nadal's former coach, Francis Roig, "fits perfectly" for her ambitions as she targets a fifth French Open title.

Watch as Swiatek already showing her class against Bejlek at Roland-Garros

Video credit: TNT Sports

Swiatek reached the third round at Roland-Garros on Wednesday with a 6-2 6-3 victory over world No. 35 Sara Bejlek.

It was not a vintage display from Swiatek, who appeared subdued on Court Philippe-Chatrier in comparison to her usual intensity. But, as elite players do, she found a way to come through the testing second-round clash.

And speaking on-court afterwards, she delved into her new partnership with Roig - who was a key part of Nadal's team for 17 years, as the Spaniard won a staggering 14 French Open titles.

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"I spent the week in Mallorca which is amazing," Swiatek said. "Starting the clay-court season there gave me a lot of energy and motivation.

"With Francis I'm really happy we speak the same language, and he wants the same stuff from my game as how I wish to play. It all fits perfectly.

"For sure we practice a little differently, because with every coach there's a different style of practices, and at first I needed to adjust to that. Week by week, I can take more and more from Francis, for sure."

Swiatek's performance on Wednesday was resilient, if not sparkling. But ultimately, she gave Bejlek no room to get on top of points, breaking serve at every opportunity in the opening set.

Watch as superb Swiatek wins in straight sets to reach third round at Roland-Garros

Video credit: TNT Sports

From there, the Czech had no platform from which to build, and Swiatek ground her down.

In a match with little flow in the sweltering Paris heat - up at 30 degrees Celsius by midday - Swiatek was broken twice herself in the opener, but crucially managed a couple of valuable holds to establish the advantage.

Serving struggles for both players bled into the second set as Swiatek broke again to take a 2-0 lead.

She was immediately chalked back, Bejlek's strong defence prompting errors from the four-time Roland-Garros winner.

But Bejlek could not consolidate. She did not win a single service game until that, which saw her pull back to 4-2 in the second set, holding to love after a slew of Swiatek errors.

Bejlek's sturdy defence was once again on display as she broke again, but Swiatek's subsequent break to love quelled all the Czech's momentum - and a third-round clash against either Jelena Ostapenko or Magda Linette now awaits the Pole.

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