NEW YORK – The final Grand Slam of the year is underway at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and the world's top players wasted no time asserting their dominance. Poland's Iga Świątek and Italy's Jannik Sinner, both heavy favorites, delivered commanding performances in their opening-round matches to advance with ease.
Świątek Begins Quest for Seventh Major Title with Decisive Win
World No. 2 Iga Świątek, fresh off her Wimbledon victory, showcased her impeccable form by dismantling Colombia's Emiliana Arango (No. 84) with a swift 6-1, 6-2 victory in just one hour. Świątek, a two-time champion in New York, surrendered only three games, demonstrating the clean and powerful baseline game that has defined her recent success.
The victory marked a significant milestone for the 24-year-old Pole, who extended her remarkable winning streak in WTA Tour-level tournament openers to 65 matches, surpassing the previous record held by Monica Seles. This incredible feat highlights her consistency and unwavering focus at the start of every competition.
Świątek is now on a mission to capture her seventh career Grand Slam title and her third US Open championship. Her next opponent will be Suzan Lamens (No. 66) of the Netherlands, a player she has not faced before. Following her run at the US Open, Świątek is set to compete in the Korea Open in Seoul this September, a much-anticipated appearance for her fans in Asia.
Another former champion, Naomi Osaka (No. 24) of Japan, also secured a spot in the second round, defeating Belgium's Greet Minnen (No. 106) 6-3, 6-4. Osaka, who claimed the US Open title in 2018 and 2020, showed flashes of her signature power and precision, giving fans a glimpse of the form that made her a dominant force on hard courts.
Sinner Continues Strong Hard-Court Form
On the men's side, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner lived up to his top billing, making a powerful statement with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 rout of Czech Republic's Vít Kopřiva (No. 89). The reigning US Open champion needed just 98 minutes to dispatch his opponent, dropping only four games throughout the entire match.
Sinner, who has won the last three hard-court majors, including last year’s US Open, is widely considered a co-favorite for the title alongside his top rival, Carlos Alcaraz. His powerful and precise game, which has matured significantly over the past year, appears well-suited to the fast courts of Flushing Meadows.
The Italian will now face off against Alexei Popyrin (No. 36) of Australia in the second round, a match that presents an opportunity for Sinner to avenge a past defeat. The two last met in 2021 at the Madrid Open, where Sinner, then a rising star, lost 0-2 to Popyrin. A much-improved Sinner will be expected to deliver a different result this time.
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