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Images from the US Open women’s singles first round matches, at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Tuesday.
IMAGE: Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her US Open first round match against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Tuesday. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Top seed Iga Swiatek overcame a slew of unforced errors to secure her spot in the second round of the US Open with a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over Russian lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova on Tuesday.
Swiatek, who counts the 2022 US Open among her five Grand Slam titles, converted three of six break-point chances but also racked up 41 unforced errors en route to securing the victory in one hour and 52 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Rakhimova, who was added to the main draw as a lucky loser after another player pulled out with injury, nearly pushed the first-time meeting to a decider but squandered a trio of set points in the second-set tie-break.
Swiatek built a 4-0 double break lead and looked poised to run away with an easy win but Rakhimova consolidated a break to get within a game before Swiatek went on to seal the first set with her third love hold of the match.
IMAGE: Kamilla Rakhimova reacts after breaking Iga Swiatek to get to 5-5 in the second set. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters
The Pole consolidated an early break with another love hold for a 3-1 lead in the second set but suddenly started showing signs of frustration as her shots were off target and Rakhimova refused to back down from the challenge.
Swiatek had a chance to serve out the match but Rakhimova broke to get to 5-5 as the second set went to a tie-break where the Russian jumped ahead 6-3 before a slew of untimely mishits gifted her opponent the match.
“At the beginning (I felt) good but then I got a little bit tight and my opponent used it so I was trying to get back to my game,” said Swiatek.
“I’ve just been trying to adjust to the courts, haven’t, you know practised a lot so this time I just wanted to feel how it is on Arthur Ashe and I’m pretty sure day by day I am going to get more and more rhythm.”
The reigning French Open champion will next face Japan’s Ena Shibahara, who beat Australia’s Daria Saville 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6).
Osaka too good for Ostapenko
IMAGE: Japan’s Naomi Osaka gave a glimpse of her past dominance against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the second set as she blasted three straight aces to claim the fourth game. Photograph: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Japan’s Naomi Osaka beat 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 on Louis Armstrong Stadium in a rare first round US Open clash between former major champions.
A laser-focussed Osaka held serve throughout and fired nine aces in a surgical takedown to kick-off her return to Flushing Meadows following a maternity leave year off in 2023.
Miscues including six double faults and 21 unforced errors plagued an uneven performance by the hard-hitting Latvian.
IMAGE: Jelena Ostapenko committed six double faults and 21 unforced errors in an uneven performance. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters
A back-and-forth first set turned in Osaka’s favour as Ostapenko hit a cross-court backhand into the net in the eighth game, earning the four-time major winner the first of her three service breaks.
Former world number one Osaka gave a friendly New York crowd a glimpse of her past dominance in the second set as she blasted three straight aces to claim the fourth game.
Ostapenko fought off two match points before Osaka slammed the door with a blistering cross-court forehand winner, setting up a second-round bout with Karolina Muchova.
