– Last year I felt pressure related to the things I had to defend: my ranking, all my points and the US Open title. I felt like I was carrying a lot of baggage on my shoulders. This year is different, I feel like I can only focus on tennis and playing my best – said Iga Świątek (1. WTA) before the start of the US Open. In the first match Shelf she competed with Kamilla Rachimova (104. WTA).
Iga Świątek beats Kamilla Rachimowa and continues playing in the US Open. But no excitement
Course and result Christmas match journalists and experts commented on social media. “Iga Świątek had a real visit to the gym today – she added weights to herself. The most important thing is that she finally lifted them. We are waiting for the continuation,” Agnieszka Niedziałek from Sport.pl commented.
“Iga Świątek starts the US Open2024 so nervously that I feel like I'm watching the memorable tournament from two years ago again. Heavy,” wrote Łukasz Jachimiak from Sport.pl. “As many as 41 unforced errors (with 30 winners), three set points saved (from 3-6 in the tie-break). Only 104th in the WTA ranking is Rachimowa, with whom Iga Świątek struggled in the first round of the US Open. But all this is not important, because Iga won 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) and let's believe that she will get going,” he summed up later.
Surprising words about Iga Świątek and Daria Abramowicz. “I'm starting to wonder if cooperation still makes sense”
Seweryn Czernek from WP SportoweFakty shared an interesting theory. “Iga Świątek has recently been too emotional and has lost confidence during game“I'm starting to wonder if cooperation with Abramowicz still makes sense… Of course, the fatigue of the season is showing, but I recently saw such images at the beginning of their journey together,” he wrote.
“Iga has been losing confidence during matches very easily lately. Something that has never happened to her before,” assessed Michał Chojecki from “Super Express”. “A great start, but then Iga Świątek's confidence was slipping away from game to game. You have to give credit to Rachimowa for her great defensive work, but Iga game“She was very nervous, took too many risks, lacked rhythm. The important thing is that we managed to close it out,” he added.
“6:4, 7:6(6) Iga Świątek wins her first match in this year's US Open. It wasn't a good match for the Polish player, but defending three set points at the end shows Iga's strength. There is of course a lot to improve, but there is also time for that,” wrote Adam Romer from “Tenisklub” magazine.
“This match of Iga Świątek was probably even stranger than the one with Graczewa in Cincinnati. From 4:0 in the first set she had no control over the match at all, and she won the tie-break mainly due to Rachimowa's collapse. Immediate improvement is needed!” – assessed Piotr Bernaciak from Onet.
“Iga Świątek closed the match with Kamilla Rachimowa in two sets. A huge number of unforced errors, with which Iga let her opponent into the game. She won 6:4, 7:6(6) and advanced to the second round of the US Open. Work, work and more work… there is work to do in New York” – tweeted Rafał Smoliński from WP SportoweFakty.
“World number 1 Iga Świątek recovers from a 3-6 deficit (3 set points) in the second set tie-break to beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4 7-6(6), advancing to the second round of the US Open. She is far from her best form…” – the Portuguese noted journalist Jose Morgado.
In the second round of the US Open, Iga Świątek will play against Japanese Ena Shibahara (217th WTA), who defeated Australian Daria Saville (95th WTA) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10-6).