US Open 2024 Women’s Day 4

Iga Swiatek bulldozed a player ranked more than 200 spots below her, with the world No. 1 subduing Japanese doubles specialist and tournament qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-0, 6-1 on Thursday at the US Open.

The Pole who won the title here in 2022, was ruthless in her demolition of the 217th-ranked Asian as she delivered a bagel-and-breadstick victory in 66 minutes.

Swiatek won the first seven games, with her opponent breaking the spell for a moment before fading away.

Swiatek, four times a champion at Roland Garros, claimed her WTA-leading 55th win of the season, a dozen more than second-best Emma Navarro.

The player who is top-seeded at a major for the 11th time ended with a mere six unforced errors as she reached her 19th straight third round at a Grand Slam.

Swiatek’s progression was smooth compared to her struggles in the opening round against a lucky loser from qualifying.

“I used yesterday to practice and get my rhythm. I was making for sure better decisions,” she said, adding:

“It’s not like I need to do that much work because I kind of have the tools, but sometimes it’s just hard to use them. 

“I couldn’t really focus well in my first-round match, and I wanted to improve that.”Today the mindset was for sure a little bit better.”

Former Wimbledon winner and fourth seed Elena Rybakina pulled out of the event – her eighth at a tournament this season – for unspecified reasons.

The Kazakh is the first women’s Top 5 seed to pull out here since 2000.

Fifth seed Jasmine Paolini played just a couple of points before opponent Karolina Pliskova retired with a left foot injury, handing the Italian a trip into the third round.

Paolini, finalist at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, had not reached the second round of any major prior to this season when the smiling player burst unexpectedly into form.

The smiling player who has made a breakthrough at age 28, detailed her approach to tennis life.

“You have to always see the glass half full – not half empty.
“I’m trying to repeat to myself that I’m in a good position and doing what I love. There’s no reason to complain or be sad.

“I think I’m lucky. That’s what I repeat to myself when there are bad days.
It’s life. Just reminding myself always that I’m lucky.”

Compatriot and doubles partner Sara Errani advanced past American Caroline Dolehide 7-5, 7-5, while 59th-ranked Ashlyn Krueger made it a home hat-trick as she defeated teenaged Mirra Andreeva 6-1, 6-4.

US sixth seed Jessica Pegula, who played the Cincinnati final, kept her record against fellow Americans a spotless 11-0 this season with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin.

Pegula trailed a break in both sets but came alive in the second as she won five straight games from 0-2 down and advanced with her sixth ace on match point.

“I guess I get juiced up to play Americans,” she said of her record.

“I knew I had chances to break her in this match, but she’s a tough returner who gets good depth on her shots.”