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World no. 1 Iga Swiatek didn’t take much time to book her spot in the second round of the 2022 US Open. The Pole needed just 67 minutes to get past Jasmine Paolini, 6-3, 6-0. The opening set saw Swiatek secure a double break for herself only for her to hand back the second break twice.
However, the Italian's errors didn’t let her consolidate the break back, each time she had it. In the ninth game, Paolini handed Swiatek the break right back that gave her not only the game but also the set and therefore, the lead in the match.
Paolini had no shots in her kitty to match Swiatek's in the second set. The sixth game of the set saw the lower-ranked player put up a tough fight in which she saved a match point but by then, it was too late. A second match point soon came up for Swiatek and this time around, Paolini wasn’t able to thwart it.
Both players had 18 unforced errors each but where Swiatek had 14 winners, Paolini had a paltry five. Swiatek also converted seven of the nine break points she had on Paolini's serve. In the second round, Swiatek will play either Greet Minnen or former US Open winner, Sloane Stephens.
US Open: Garbine Muguruza's quest begins at Flushing Meadows
Garbine Muguruza also moved ahead in the draw. The Spaniard, seeded ninth this year, overcame Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-6(5) after two hours and two minutes of play.
The former world no. 1 looked to be cruising in the match as she broke Tauson for a 3-2 lead in the second set after having won the first. However, she wasn’t able to consolidate the break and handed the break back to the Dane.
Spurred by the quick change in momentum, Tauson did well to consolidate the break back and put pressure on Muguruza. In the 10th game of the set, while serving to stay in it, Muguruza fell behind three set points but saved them all to win the game and eventually, push the set into a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Muguruza came 0-4 behind to win the match on her first match point. The two-time Major winner will play Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova next. The 17-year-old who’s playing a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, at the US Open this year, came through her opening-round clash against Xinyu Wang, 6-3, 6-4.
Photo Credit: WTA Twitter Other Results (8) Jessica Pegula d. (Q) Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-2
Sorana Cirstea d. Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-4
Qinwen Zheng d. (16) Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Marie Bouzkova d. Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2
Kaia Kanepi d. Tereza Martincova 7-6(4), 6-3
(6) Aryna Sabalenka d. (Q) Catherine Harrison 6-3, 6-1