Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world’s number one tennis player, put on an impressive display at the U.S. Open, defeating 25th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2. This victory marks the fourth consecutive year that Swiatek has reached the round of 16 at the tournament.
Swiatek, who won the U.S. Open in 2022, was in complete control throughout the match. She never faced a break point and played with remarkable precision, securing her win at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match concluded with Swiatek confidently pumping her fist as Pavlyuchenkova sent a return past the baseline on match point.
Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek expressed satisfaction with how she handled the match. “I’m happy with the performance because I felt like she’s a player that can play really powerful shots, so I wanted to be ready for that, and I was,” said Swiatek. “I’m happy that I was in control of the match.”
The first set saw Swiatek break Pavlyuchenkova in the opening game, capitalizing on unforced errors from her opponent. Swiatek maintained her momentum into the second set, where she only dropped three first-serve points and made just one unforced error. As the Russian’s power began to fade, Swiatek took advantage, breaking Pavlyuchenkova to love in the third game and again in the fifth.
A special moment for Swiatek came before the match when she met tennis legend Serena Williams in the players’ gym. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was visiting Flushing Meadows for the first time since retiring two years ago. Swiatek downplayed any suggestions that this interaction was a distraction. Instead, she described it as a positive experience that gave her an extra boost of motivation.
Swiatek will next face Liudmila Samsonova as she continues her quest for another U.S. Open title.
