United States international Iga Swiatek wins in 49 minutes against her best friend

(New York) Iga Swiatek was merciless past Kaja Juvan, beating the Slovenian qualifier 6-0, 6-1 in just 49 minutes on Friday. The world No. 1 has thus reached the fourth round of the United States Open.

Swiatek, also defending champion in New York, has lost just nine games since the start of the tournament. The Pole has won 19 rounds to nil this season.

“I didn’t like having to beat my best friend,” Swiatek said in an on-court interview after her match. It was like playing against my sister. I don’t have many friends, but she is my best friend. »

In the next round, Swiatek will face the Latvian and 20^e seeded Jelena Ostapenko, 2017 French Open champion. Ostapenko defeated American Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In the first game of the day at Arthur-Ashe Stadium, the American and 14^e top seed Tommy Paul reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time in his career with a 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 win over the Spaniard and 21^e seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Paul ended the game by hitting a 15^e ace.

“I think I served well and did well going into the net. I also managed to use the whole court,” said Paul, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Paul will now face 20-year-old American Ben Shelton, who defeated Russian Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.

Meanwhile, No. 10 Karolina Muchova beat American Taylor Townsend 7-6(0), 6-3 in another third-round match.

Muchova, who reached the final at the French Open this year, matched her career-best result at Flushing Meadows by unsettling her rival with numerous serve and volley combinations. Townsend committed 39 unforced errors.

Finalist in Cincinnati in August, Muchova will face in the fourth round the Chinese Xinyu Wang, who beat the Slovak Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Later in the day, American Coco Gauff, No. 6, faced Belgian Elise Mertens, No. 32, and in a duel between two players who have recently made returns, Caroline Wozniacki had a date with Jennifer Brady.

In the evening, No. 2 Novak Djokovic is scheduled to face fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, No. 32. Djokovic is looking for a 24^e major title.