Sublime Swiatek eases into US Open fourth round

Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, moved into the fourth round of the US Open by defeating Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the No 25 seed, 6-4, 6-2 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Saturday.

It was a regular day at the office for Swiatek as she kept her serve unchallenged and broke Pavlyuchenkova’s serve thrice in the two setter that lasted a little over 90 minutes.

The outcome ensured the Pole a fourth straight last 16 appearance in the Big Apple. Playing her first night session in Flushing Meadows this year, Swiatek extended her gratitude to the crowd for the support.

“Thank you guys for being with us and creating such an atmosphere because it’s always special in New York,” she told Darren Cahill in the on-court interview. “I feel like I need to focus even more in being my bubble because for sure it’s louder, I love it but on the other hand, you know, I need to focus on my job.”

In a hightlight reel moment, the 2022 US Open champion left Pavlyuhcenkova in disbelief on the net during the fifth game of the first set, by landing a tough return in and making it spin backwards so that it fell on her side of the court.

Pavlyuchenkova tried her best to reach it but failed, apparently fearing touching the net. The moment brought a smile to even the chair umpire, who watched it from the best angle possible.

Swiatek, ranked No 1, will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 16 seed, next. She has played against Samsonova thrice in the past and never lost.

Ahead of her victory, the Pole won against Russian lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova (6-4, 7-6 (6)) and Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara (6-0, 6-1).

Samsonova defeated Ashlyn Krueger (6-1, 6-1) in the third round after securing wins against Qiang Wang (6-2, 7-5) and Marie Bouzkova (3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3) previously.

New York (Grand Slam), other third-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 75.000.000, most recent results first):

• Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Anna Kalinskaya
• Caroline Wozniacki beat Jessika Ponchet (Q): 6-3, 6-2
• Liudmila Samsonova beat Ashlyn Krueger: 6-1, 6-1
• Diana Shnaider (18) beat Sara Errani: 6-2, 6-2
• Jessica Pegula (6) beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro: 6-3, 6-3
• Jasmine Paolini (5) beat Yulia Putintseva (30): 6-3, 6-4
• Karolina Muchova beat Anastasia Potapova: 6-4, 6-2
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Ekaterina Alexandrova (29): 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
• Elise Mertens (33) beat Madison Keys (14): 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4
• Donna Vekic (24) beat Peyton Stearns: 7-5, 6-4
• Emma Navarro (13) beat Marta Kostyuk (19): 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
• Yafan Wang beat Victoria Azarenka (20): 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
• Coco Gauff (3) beat Elina Svitolina (27): 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
• Qinwen Zheng (7) beat Jule Niemeier: 6-2, 6-1
• Paula Badosa (26) beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Q): 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8)

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