Iga Swiatek is on 🔥 at the U.S. Open! The Polish sensation effortlessly dispatched Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory in the second round on Thursday. This win cements her status as a top contender for the title. 🎾✨
While Swiatek faced a minor hurdle in her first match, battling through unforced errors against Russian Kamilla Rakhimova, she bounced back strong against Shibahara. In just over an hour, she showcased impeccable precision, winning 89% of her first serves and capitalizing on break points to surge ahead. 🏃♀️💨
\"I'm playing, you know, not overpowering (tennis), but trying to be really solid and picking the right shots and being proactive. I'm happy with everything,\" Swiatek shared during her on-court interview. Her focus and rhythm were on point as she dominated the court. 🎤💬
Shibahara, making her first singles Grand Slam main draw appearance and ranked outside the top 200, gave Swiatek a run for her money in the second set. She defended three break points to keep the scoreline tight at 1-1, avoiding the dreaded 'double bagel'. However, Swiatek wasn't having it and clinched the next five games to secure her win. 💪🏽🔥
Looking ahead, Swiatek is set to face either Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the third round. Stay tuned as she aims for the third Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows! 🏆🌟
Meanwhile, Wang Xinyu of China faced a tough match against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, losing 1-6, 6(4)-7, and will not advance to the third round. 🎾😞
