WHAT HAPPENED: While the rest of the women’s field is busy making headlines and stealing the spotlight at the 2024 US Open, top seed and former champion Iga Swiatek is quietly making her way through the draw.
In her milestone 100th Grand Slam singles match Monday night, Swiatek celebrated with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Liudmila Samsonova to move into the quarterfinals and bring her record at the majors to 83-17.
The world No. 1 has not yet dropped a set through four rounds, and her high level of play showed no signs of weakness against the 6-foot-tall Samsonova.
The No. 16 seed’s big game kept her toe-to-toe with Swiatek through much of the first set, giving fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium a peek into why she has been to this stage of a major twice before. But once Swiatek got a look at triple set point on Samsonova’s serve in the 10th game, she ran away with the opportunity and closed out the one-set lead.
“At the beginning I felt like we were playing men's style tennis, holding serve every game,” Swiatek said post-match. “But I knew if I kept pushing I would have chances to break her serve. In the second I just wanted to keep being focused and not let my mind drift off.”
By the start of the second set, Swiatek had settled into her service game and took a firm grip on the match, winning 13 of 14 first-serve points and 56 percent of return points. Two breaks of serve were all the Pole needed to shut down Samsonova’s game and seal the victory in the second after racing out to a 5-0 lead.
WHAT IT MEANS: The top seed’s win ensures she still has a chance to add to her WTA-leading season. Swiatek leads the WTA Tour with 57 match wins on the year after taking five titles, including her fourth Roland Garros crown, and an Olympic bronze medal.
Swiatek’s next opponent in New York is a familiar one, as she will square off against No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula in their third quarterfinal meeting at a Grand Slam. Previously, Swiatek defeated the American at this same stage en route to her 2022 Roland Garros and US Open titles. As they enter their 10th career meeting, the Pole owns a 6-3 advantage.
Wednesday’s match will be the pair's first meeting this year, and with the American playing some of her best tennis, Swiatek knows that she will need to keep her legs fresh and ready for what is sure to be a physical match.
"Jess is never easy to play," said the top seed. "She has a tricky game style so I have to be ready for longer rallies. She's a great player, so for sure it’s going to be a challenge."
MATCH POINT: Swiatek did not face a single break point in the match, and has only lost two of four break points the entire tournament.
That first round of this U.S. Open is starting to look and feel like an anomaly.
She has dramatically improved her game (her backhand in particular) in the last few matches and gone back to relying on her strength which is her speed, defense and return all of which she is doing in a more controlled manner (I'm honestly getting shades of 2022).
And it's making me so happy. You can actually see she's enjoying herself out there despite being tired (it being another long season and all).
It's like she's found that level she usually only finds on her favourite surface and the one she found at the end of the season last year starting in Bejing. And it's an absolute joy to witness again.
Pegula will certainly be her biggest test yet (I thought Samsonova would be but she was only able to bring it for parts of set 1).
Given the form Pegula is in winning in Canada she certainly won't be short on confidence.
The question remains though whether she will feel some nerves trying to reach her first ever Grand Slam semi something she has never done before and has a bit of a hang up on.
But I know Iga won't be counting on that she'll play her game to the best of her ability. I know she'll leave it all out on the court on Wednesday and I can't wait!.
Jazda Iga, like your fave tv show character Ted Lasso we believe :)
For the first time in her career, Iga Świątek has gone three consecutive matches without getting broken. And not only that, but did it without facing a single break point across the 2R, 3R, and 4R (25 games).
12 - Defeating Liudmila Samsonova, Iga Swiatek is one of only four players in the past four decades to achieve 12 straight Grand Slam match wins over WTA top 20 opponents along with Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Serena Williams. Eminent.
83 - Among those to begin their career in the Open Era, only six have more wins from their first 100 GS matches than Iga Swiatek (83): Monica Seles, 93 Chris Evert, 90 Steffi Graf, 87 Martina Hingis & S. Williams, 86 V. Williams, 85 Company.
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