It's been so long since number one-ranked Iga Świątek lost — 31 tennis matches now — and even since she ceded so much as a set, which last happened more than a month ago, that she could be forgiven if she couldn't recall how to react when in trouble on a tennis court.

Which is why it was worth watching as the 2020 French Open champion navigated a couple of tricky spots in the third round at Roland Garros on Saturday.

Świątek didn't panic and didn't allow thoughts about this dominant run coming to an end distract her in what would become a 6-3, 7-5 victory against hard-hitting Danka Kovinic of Montenegro.

"The thoughts are there, but I'm accepting that."

Kovinic got a too-close-for-comfort look at Świątek's predecessor atop the WTA rankings, the since-retired Ash Barty, during her 6-0, 6-0 loss at the Australian Open in January.

After Saturday's setback, Kovinic said she was dealing with a nerve issue in her right shoulder and felt tingling in that arm and two of her fingers. She also said she made sure to deliver a message to Świątek when they shook hands at the net.

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"She has something special. What it is, I don't know."

Two traits stood out in Świątek's win over Kovinic: an ability to remain in the moment and a willingness to think her way out of a corner.

Early on, when a 3-0 lead shrank to 4-3, Świątek grabbed eight consecutive points to own that set.

In the second, she dropped four straight games to trail 5-4.

Świątek then adjusted to Kovinic's style by using guile instead of attempting to match power with power, and she reeled off the last three games to finish the job.

"For sure," Świątek said, "[I] played a little bit more smart."

Her next opponent is Zheng Qinwen, a 19-year-old from China who is ranked 74th and in her second grand slam tournament.

"I really want to play against her," said Zheng, who was ahead 6-0, 3-0 when Alize Cornet stopped playing because of an injured left leg.

Other women's fourth-rounders are:

• Jessica Pegula vs. Irina-Camelia Begu, who was fined $10,000 after she threw her racquet and it bounced into the stands and brushed a child in the stands earlier in the week
• Daria Kasatkina vs. Camila Giorgi
• Madison Keys vs. Veronika Kudermetova.

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Pegula (11th) — whose parents own the NFL's Buffalo Bills and NHL's Buffalo Sabres — and Świątek are the only two of the top 15 seeds remaining in the women's draw.

"She's kind of hit another level than all of us right now. Yeah, it's a little scary," said Pegula, who needed 10 match points to close out her first-round victory, then eight more in her next match, but sealed Saturday's 6-1, 7-6 (7/2) win over 2021 semi-finallist Tamara Zidansek on her initial chance.

One more victory apiece, and Świątek becomes Pegula's problem in the quarter-finals.

"Her athleticism and defensive skills are really, really good," Pegula said. "And then, I think, she's gotten much more offensive this year. Been more aggressive when she's needed to be."

Świątek has won her past four tournaments and 48 of her past 49 sets, the exception came against Liudmila Samsonova in the semi-finals at Stuttgart on April 23.

The last match Świątek lost was against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko back on February 16 in the round of 16 at Dubai.

She's won a total of 15 sets by a 6-0 score this season, but Świątek showed on Saturday she can handle it when things get tight.

AP