Iga Świątek has successfully advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, a crucial warm-up event ahead of the US Open. The Cincinnati courts have historically posed challenges for the Polish star due to their fast surface and low bounce, often causing difficulties in her gameplay. However, Świątek has shown resilience, having reached the semifinals in the last two editions, only to be defeated by the eventual champions Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.
This year, Świątek was seeded third and received a bye in the first round. In the second round, she faced Anastasia Potapova, against whom she had a dominant prior record, winning their last encounter at the 2022 Roland Garros without conceding a game. The match, officiated by Miriam Bley, began strongly for Świątek, who quickly established her dominance by winning six consecutive points on her serve.
Potapova experienced early pressure, struggling to cope with Świątek’s powerful play. The Polish player capitalized on her opponent’s mistakes and closed the first set with a resounding score of 6-1 in just 26 minutes. The statistics reflected Świątek’s control, leading with 26 points to 9 by the end of the first set.
In the second set, however, some nerves surfaced as Świątek made a few mistakes. Despite an early advantage, Potapova started to find her rhythm, briefly taking the lead. Nevertheless, Świątek quickly regained her focus, aided by advice from her psychologist Daria Abramowicz, reminding her to concentrate on the game. With renewed determination, she went on to regain the momentum, pulling ahead and eventually winning the match 6-1, 6-4 after 73 minutes of play.
In the next round, Świątek will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostiuk, who triumphed over Tatjana Maria with a decisive score of 6-0, 6-1. This matchup promises to be an exciting contest as both players strive for advancement in the tournament.
Overall, Świątek’s performance reflects her resilience and skills as she prepares for the prestigious US Open, where she will aim to build on her successful season.