NEW YORK (AP) — Iga Swiatek is profitable simply — and quietly.
At this U.S. Open, even the world’s No. 1 participant is a distant No. 2 so long as Serena Williams continues to be round.
“Yeah, that’s sort of her time proper now,” Swiatek mentioned. “I’m simply, you recognize, taking part in and specializing in that, and that’s a very powerful factor for me.”
The 2-time French Open champion simply beat 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday within the second spherical for her WTA Tour-leading fiftieth victory this season.
A day after Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, with No. 3 Maria Sakkari dropping earlier Wednesday, Swiatek maybe looms as a good greater risk to win a seventh title this 12 months, one thing no person has executed since Williams in 2014. Previous U.S. Open champions Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu have additionally been eradicated, together with 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
Swiatek got here to the U.S. Open simply 4-4 for the reason that finish of her 37-match profitable streak earlier this 12 months, however has dropped simply eight video games by means of two rounds. She wanted only one hour, 14 minutes to beat Stephens, having no hassle along with her first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Actually, I simply tried to have the identical sort of motivation or angle as some other court docket, as a result of it’s one of the best ways for me to carry out good,” Swiatek mentioned.
Williams resumes what might be her remaining singles match Friday. First, she was due again on Ashe to start the night time session Thursday together with huge sister Venus for his or her ladies’s doubles match towards the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.
4-time champion Rafael Nadal was following them towards Fabio Fognini.
Different winners Thursday included No. 8 Jessica Pegula, No. 13 Belinda Bencic and No. 26 Victoria Azarenka, who didn’t get a handshake from Marta Kostyuk after beating the Ukrainian participant.
Azarenka is from Belarus, which helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine.
“I simply don’t suppose it’s the correct factor to do within the circumstances I’m in proper now,” Kostyuk mentioned of a handshake, as a substitute providing solely a racket faucet on the finish.
No. 11 Jannik Sinner and No. 15 Marin Cilic, the 2015 U.S. Open champion, superior, however No. 25 Borna Coric was upset by American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 7-6 (10), 6-1. Brooksby reached the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows as a 20-year-old final 12 months, profitable a set from Novak Djokovic.
Pegula was due again on the court docket later Thursday to hitch Coco Gauff for his or her first-round doubles match. The No. 2 seeds have been to play Fernandez and Daria Saville.
The 18-year-old Gauff can also be nonetheless alive in singles, however Pegula didn’t suppose they might take into account dropping out of doubles to avoid wasting their power.
“No, we simply need to win the match, I believe,” she mentioned. “I believe each of us do. Her, she’s by no means drained. She’s so younger, in any case.”
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Extra AP protection of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
