Iga Swiatek, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, continued her dominant run at the US Open, effortlessly dispatching 25th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday. The reigning champion, seeking to defend her title, delivered a near-flawless performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium, never facing a break point and minimizing unforced errors.
Swiatek, who won the French Open three times, seized control early, breaking Pavlyuchenkova in the opening game and then confidently serving to love in the 10th game to clinch the first set. She carried her momentum into the second set, dropping just three of her first-serve points and making only one unforced error. She broke Pavlyuchenkova twice more in the third and fifth games, solidifying her victory.
“I just wanted to kind of focus on myself,” Swiatek said after the match. “For sure she’s a great player and she’s really powerful so you have to be ready for the first couple of shots to be really fast,” she added, highlighting the challenge posed by Pavlyuchenkova’s powerful game.
Swiatek’s victory sets up a fourth-round clash against Liudmila Samsonova, who will be a formidable opponent. However, Swiatek’s impressive performance and unwavering focus suggest she is poised to make a deep run in the tournament.
