Iga Swiatek drops one game in dominant US Open win over Ena Shibahara - ‘I wasn’t really focussed on the score’
Updated 29/08/2024 at 21:43 GMT+1
Iga Swiatek said she was "happy with everything" in her US Open second-round win over qualifier Ena Shibahara, who she dismantled in rapid fashion to reach round three and join an elite club. “I wasn't really focused on the score," the top seed admitted after the match. "I just wanted to focus on technicalities and what I practiced yesterday and trying to convert it to my game."
'I personally just block... so bye!' - Gauff's simple solution to online trolls after win
Video credit: SNTV
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek delivered a business-like performance in her second-round US Open match against Ena Shibahara to advance in New York.
The Polish superstar beat the qualifier 6-0 6-1 to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the fifth consecutive year, as she looks to reclaim the title she won in 2022.
After the match, Swiatek said she did not take much notice of the score and hopes to be able to continue the way she played on Thursday for the rest of the Grand Slam.
Swiatek said: “[I liked the way] I played, not overpowering but being really solid and hitting the right shots to be proactive. So I’m happy with everything basically.
“I felt the rhythm much better. I wasn’t intense in my last match so today I just wanted to focus on the right things and focus on myself and what I want to do on court.
“I wasn't really focused on the score, I just wanted to focus on technicalities and what I practiced yesterday and trying to convert it to my game.
"I wasn’t really thinking about the score because sometimes when it goes pretty quick your mind can drift off, so I was just trying to stay in the zone.
“It didn’t matter for me if it was 3-3 or 6-0, I want to keep playing the same way.”
Swiatek was rock solid from start to finish and hardly let Shibahara breathe.
The top seed secured a brilliant bagel to rattle through the first set before powering past 217th-ranked Shibahara in 65 minutes.
Swiatek joined elite company with her victory on Thursday as she secured a 19th consecutive run to the third round of a Grand Slam.
Paolini moves into round three, Boulter suffers defeat
Jasmine Paolini continued her bid for a third straight Grand Slam final appearance with a walkover victory over Karolina Pliskova.
Paolini will have plenty left in the tank for her third-round match against No. 32 Yulia Putintseva, because her encounter with Pliskova hardly got going.
The 2016 finalist lasted just three points before she had to sit out with an ankle injury, before eventually throwing the towel in.
- ‘Talk about putting pressure on someone’ - McEnroe on expectation for Gauff to emulate Serena
- I’ll have to bring my best’ – Gauff looks ahead to Svitolina clash after reaching third round
- ‘I can improve’ - Sinner continues blistering form to breeze into US Open third round
Elsewhere, Jessica Pegula continued her prolific form as she came out on top in an all-American clash against Sofia Kenin, claiming her 11th win of her last 12 matches in the process
The sixth seed narrowly clinched the tie in straight sets, winning 7-6(4) 6-3 in one hour and 27 minutes.
Great Britain’s Katie Boulter was beaten in a disappointing straight-sets defeat by Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 41 places below Boulter in the WTA world rankings, beat the 31st seed 7-5 7-5.
Watch and stream the 2024 Laver Cup live on Eurosport and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2214.png)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2241.png)