"This is determination I've never seen before" - Casper Ruud exalts Iga Swiatek who offers insight on 'insane' turnover from Cincinnati final

The revamped US Open mixed doubles started yesterday at Flushing Meadows, with 16 pairs vieing for a chance to claim the title and $1 million winning cheque. Whilst some players had the chance to settle in before kicking off their campaign, Iga Swiatek had to travel from Cincinnati directly after winning the Masters 1000 title to New York to prepare for her two ties the next day.

Before Wimbledon, the Pole had an unusually slow start to the season, reaching just one final in Halle. A disappointing clay season for what is a surface she has dominated on worried many people and got them questioning whether Swiatek was still at the races.

Turned out she was, after an almost flawless Wimbledon run where she whitewashed Amercian Amanda Anisimova in the final to win her first title in SW19 and her sixth Grand Slam at the tender age of just 24-years-old. She followed that with a frustrating round-of-16 exit at the Canadian Open to Clara Tauson before finding her best tennis in Cincinnati, as she stormed to the title, defeating Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals before triumphing over Jasmine Paolini.

The 2022 US Open champion had agreed to partner Casper Ruud for the mixed doubels event which was being held just a few days before the main singles commences. They got off to the perfect start, getting the better of American favorites Frances Tiafoe and Madison Keys, before they followed that with another 2-0 win over Lorenzo Musetti and Catherine McNally.

The duo get on very well, with Ruud praising Swiatek's win at Wimbledon on social media. This was proven by Ruud stating they have 'good chemistry' on the court. He also lauded Swiatek's ability to play against the men, especially on the serves.

In the press conference after their quarter-final win, Ruud said: "There's not too much to say other than we had a good time on court together, and we fit well as a team. I'm really impressed with Iga, the way she handles the men's balls especially, and she can return the guys' serve from the baseline, she can rally with anyone. That's both our strongest sides, and we play to the strongest sides of our game. We had good chemistry from the first point so I think that's also important in doubles. We won some really close games when we needed to and played some good tennis."

The Norwegian went on to state how impressed and jovial he was that Swiatek did not pull out of the competition, despite playing in a final the day before, and was amazed at her workrate and determination to prepare for the doubles match. "She got to bed 12 hours ago in her hotel in New York, she's here doing her warm-ups at 10am," Ruud said. "I was in the gym working on my back swing and I was looking at Iga and I was like 'this is determination I've never seen before'. It was really impressive for me to see and I am really happy she wanted to play. Just really proud of today's wins, and Iga will have a good night's sleep, and she deserves that."

It has been a rapid turnover for Swiatek, who travelled from Cincinnati to New York without the chance to bask in the glory of her magical achievement she just did. That was her 11th Masters 1000 title, and first in Cincinnati. She described it as the 'most insane schedule' she's experienced, revealing her routine after the final. "Honestly I've already had the experience of not having time to celebrate," she said. "But this was like the most extreme situation and most insane schedule I have had. I streched, ice bath, quick shower, media, and an hour and a half after the match we went to catch a plane, so it was pretty fast."

The number three seeds are back out on court today in the semi-finals, as they face the number one seeds Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, with a slot in the final on the line.