Google News Iga Swiatek reacts to dismantling Yulia Putintseva in her season-opener at United Cup
by DZEVAD MESIC
World No 1 Iga Swiatek was thrilled with her performance versus Yulia Putintseva as the Pole noted that there is usually rustiness in the opening matches of the year. Swiatek, 21, dismantled 51st-ranked Kazakh Putintseva 6-1 6-3 at the United Cup.
Since it was the first match of the Poland and Kazakhstan tie, Poland now leads 1-0 thanks to Swiatek. "I'm pretty happy with my performance. First matches of the season are always rusty. I was happy that in the important moments I was really composed," Swiatek said after the match.
How Swiatek defeated Putintseva
Swiatek was in danger of getting broken early on but she saved a break point in the very first game of the match. After missing out on a break point in the first game of the match, Putintseva had no problems serving out the second game and tying the second set to one game apiece.
But then Swiatek went on a run as she claimed back-to-back breaks in the fourth and sixth games to win five games in a row and dominantly win the first set. After winning the first set, Swiatek broke Putintseva in the fifth game of the second set to open a 3-2 lead.
In the seventh game - Swiatek had a break point which could have given her a double-break lead - but she missed out as Putintseva managed to cut the deficit to 4-3 and stay within the reach. Swiatek maybe didn't get her second break of the set in the seventh game but she broke Putintseva again in the ninth game, when the Kazakh was serving to stay in the match.
For Swiatek, it was the best possible start to the season. Swiatek dropped just four games en route to beating Putintseva and that will certainly help her confidence at the start of the season. In her next singles match at the United Cup, Swiatek is expected to play Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
Bencic will be a much tougher task but Swiatek still enters that match as the favorite. It remains to be seen if Swiatek can also beat former world No 4 Bencic in her next singles match in Brisbane.