United States Open Swiatek advances to Round of 16

(New York) The first world player Iga Swiatek qualified Friday for the round of 16 of the United States Open by inflicting a severe correction, 6-0, 6-1 on her “best friend”, the Slovenian Kaja Juvan , 145^e worldwide and resulting from qualifications.

After a 2^e round where she was a little less imperial than usual – 6-3, 6-4 victory against the 322^e Daria Saville – the defending champion was ruthless, imposing power and an untenable pace on her opponent, her “best friend” on the circuit, she confided before the meeting.

“She’s my best friend, so that was the hardest part,” Swiatek added on-court after her win.

After a first set 6-0, the Pole returned to the same pace in the second set, chaining two shutouts to lead 3-0.

When she scored her first game (3-1), Kaja Juvan, 22, all smiles, even raised her fist and then both arms as a sign of victory, to the ovations of the public at the Louis-Armstrong court.

In the next round, Swiatek will face Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (21^e world player) or the American Bernarda Pera (73^e). In case of victory, she could face in the quarterfinals the American Coco Gauff (6^e), a contender for the title after her dazzling summer marked by her victories at the Washington and Cincinnati tournaments, where she beat Swiatek in the semis.