'She was always the player to beat me': Iga Swiatek reflects on emphatic victory over Anastasia Potapova at French Open as world No 1 gets revenge for the pain her opponent caused her at youth level ten years ago

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In December 2014 at the Under 14 Orange Bowl semi-finals in Miami, a Polish girl lay in a crumpled heap of tears after letting three match points slip against her Russian opponent.

Almost a decade later, world No 1 Iga Swiatek took her brutal vengeance, thrashing Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0 at Roland Garros on Sunday in 40 minutes — the quickest match of her career.

When these two duelled on the junior circuits it was Potapova who was considered the outstanding prospect. And she is enjoying a fine career, with two titles and a ranking of 41, but Swiatek has taken a quantum leap ahead of her.

The defending champion could not deny that her mind had wandered back to those days.

‘I had a thought that times change because she was always the player to beat me,’ said Swiatek. ‘I don’t think I won against her, and I lost some heartbreaking matches.

World No 1 Iga Swiatek secured an emphatic 6-0 6-0 victory against Anastasia Potapova

Potapova often overcame Swiatek at youth level but she was well beaten on this occasion

Swiatek made only two unforced errors and lost just ten points overall against Potapova

‘Like semi-final of the Orange Bowl when I had match point. I had just a thought. It lasted two seconds, then I was focusing on my work.’

And how she focused, making only two unforced errors and losing just 10 points overall.

Swiatek looks to have fully shaken off the emotional after-effects of her thrilling second-round comeback from the brink of the defeat against Naomi Osaka.

Footage of the 23-year-old sobbing on the treatment table after that match made it clear how much it had taken out of her.

‘Three-hour matches stay with you for a couple of days but I felt really fresh today,’ said Swiatek.