U.S. Open Day Three Recap: Swiatek Cruises In Queens Opener
In search of her second U.S. Open title, Poland’s Iga Swiatek kicked off her campaign with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango on Tuesday.
“First matches are always a bit different, so I’m happy that I had some time to just get used to the conditions and the surface, because for sure it’s different than the practice courts,” said Swiatek. “I think it was just a solid match, and so I’m happy that I can play another round here.”
Swiatek ripped 26 winners on Tuesday, breaking four times in six chances, and never facing a break point of her own.
Swiatek enters this year’s final major playing some of the best tennis she has over the last 14 months, having captured Wimbledon in June before following that up with a title in Cincinnati.
Up to No. 2 in the world, Swiatek is looking to add a second U.S. Open title in her resume, and discussed how her experience winning the event in 2022 is guiding her this time around.
“In 2022, it’s not like I played amazing from the beginning. It was probably the toughest slam that I had to overcome a lot of challenges, and I managed to win it. So every year is kind of tough, because New York is just so loud, and it’s hard to find that balance off the court,” said Swiatek. “But I’ve got to say I’m probably good at it compared to other players, so I’m really trying to be in my bubble. The comfort level, it’s hard to describe, because the tournament is so long. You basically are here for three weeks, so obviously it’s not going to be the same every day.
I feel pretty happy with my performance in Cincinnati and trying to get some confidence from that.”
Up next for Swiatek is Susan Lamens of the Netherlands, who defeated American Valerie Glozman 6-4, 6-2.
Much was made of Coco Gauff’s coaching shakeup just days prior to the start of the U.S. Open, and while she had 10 double faults on Tuesday night, the third-ranked American was able to overcome veteran Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.
“I played her at the Olympics in a complete opposite of a match, so yeah, it’s difficult when you face opponents who can not play their best tennis for the year, and then step it up,” Gauff said. “But I think that this is the match that I needed. I don’t think it could get any more stressful than this, honestly. [The] first round is more stressful than the final, in my experience. I think, for me, it was a good test.”
Gauff knew she would get a test from Tomljanovic having watched the Australian defeat Serena Williams on the same court three years ago.
“I watched that match with Serena. I expected that level today where I felt like she was just going to be solid, not going to miss, take her chances when it was the right decision to, but just really be on there,” Gauff added. “That’s what she did, and I think she does better under the bigger lights.”
Gauff will take on Donna Vekic of Croatia next.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka defeated Greet Minnen 6-3, 6-4 in Louis Armstrong Stadium, converting on all six break point chances she had to move into the second round in one hour and 23 minutes.
She will play American Hailey Baptiste next.
“She’s a really good player. That’s all I can kind of think of right now; she’s able to do basically anything,” Osaka said of her second-round opponent. “I think it’s also going to be tough because she’s American. I also feel like the last time was really difficult, in Miami, but all I can do is try my best and see what the result is.”
Wimbledon runner-up and eighth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova powered her way into the second-round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, and will play another Australian in Maya Joint next.
