“Iga Swiatek Survives a Thrilling Battle to Advance—You Won’t Believe How Close It Got!” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Iga Swiatek kicked off her U.S. Open journey with a hard-fought straight-sets victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, securing the win with a 6-4, 7-6(6) scoreline. Swiatek, the world No. 1, began the match with confidence, taking control early in the first set. Her powerful groundstrokes and precise serves kept Rakhimova on the defensive, allowing Swiatek to claim the first set 6-4 without too much trouble.
However, the second set proved to be a much tougher battle. Swiatek, who later admitted to feeling tense as the match progressed, saw her initial dominance wane. Rakhimova, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, took full advantage of Swiatek’s nerves. She raised her level of play significantly, challenging the top seed with aggressive shot-making and impressive court coverage.
As the match reached a crucial point, Swiatek found herself serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But just when it seemed like she would close it out, Rakhimova staged a dramatic comeback, breaking Swiatek’s serve to even the score and keep her hopes alive. The momentum shifted, and the match intensified as both players battled fiercely to gain the upper hand.
The set ultimately came down to a tense tiebreak, where both players exchanged points in a thrilling back-and-forth. Swiatek, determined to avoid a third set, dug deep to find her best tennis when it mattered most. Despite the pressure and Rakhimova’s resilience, Swiatek managed to edge out the tiebreak 8-6, sealing the victory in straight sets.
Though the scoreline suggests a straightforward win, Swiatek’s first-round match was anything but easy. She was tested by the unseeded Rakhimova, who pushed her to the limit and exposed moments of vulnerability. Reflecting on the match, Swiatek acknowledged that she made things more difficult for herself, but expressed relief at having secured the win
With this challenging opener behind her, Swiatek will now turn her focus to the second round, where she is set to face Ena Shibahara. As the tournament progresses, Swiatek will likely be looking to tighten up her game and maintain her composure as she continues her quest for another Grand Slam title.