World No. 1
Iga Swiatek overcame a tough
challenge against
Sofia Kenin (No. 41) and defeated her 7-6(2), 6-2. The Polish
tennis player was at times overwhelmed by Kenin's confidence, but she took more
risks in crucial points and ultimately secured a challenging opening match at
the 2024
Australian Open.
Swiatek arrived in Melbourne after a
tremendous performance in the United Cup in early January, leading Poland to
the final by winning all five of her singles matches, including victories over
Beatriz Haddad Maia (No. 12), Caroline Garcia (No. 19), and Qinwen Zheng (No.
15). Swiatek received the MVP Award, but Germany ultimately claimed the title.
Kenin finished the 2023 season as the world No.
33, in a season where she was on the brink of falling out of the top 300 early
on. The American demonstrated that she is ready to return to the top of the
rankings despite early defeats in the first round of the Brisbane International
and the second round of the Hobart Open.
The 2020 Australian Open champion showcased her
confidence in Melbourne and displayed an aggressive game from the start. The
American took the first break in the third game, leading 3-1 against the
4-times Grand Slam champion. Swiatek applied pressure, won three consecutive
games, and recovered the break to take a 4-3 lead.
Although Swiatek sought the break, Kenin stood
strong on her serve and then secured a new break, giving her a 5-4 advantage
and the opportunity to serve for the set. The Polish player reacted at the
right moment, equalizing the set 5-5 with a break, and then with a 6-5 lead,
she wasted a set point, leading to the decisive tie-break.
Swiatek secured three mini-breaks and only
conceded one point on her serve, avoiding any scares in the tiebreak to take
the lead in the match 7-6(2).
In the beginning of the second set, it seemed
that Kenin would not ease up and pressed Swiatek to get the break in the second
game, but the Polish player prevailed. Later, Kenin held her service to love
and took a 2-1 lead, but it was the last game she won in the match.
Swiatek
then seized her momentum, winning five consecutive games and taking the second
set with a resounding 6-2, guaranteeing her place in the second round. Her next
opponent will be the winner of the match between former world No. 1 Angelique
Kerber (No. 655) and the 2021 Aussie Open finalist Danielle Collins (No. 62).
