Swiatek banks on renewed confidence as Medvedev battles to regain lost form
- Despite winning Wimbledon last year, Swiatek could not make the most of the season
NEW YORK: The US Open kicks off its second round on Wednesday, with seventh seed Daniil Medvedev looking to shake off his struggles in the lead-up to the tournament, while former champion Iga Swiatek looks to build on newfound confidence.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka also continues her title defence, while ex-finalist Jessica Pegula looks to end the Belarusian’s reign as the world’s number one.
Top women’s match: Iga swiatek v Nadia Podoroska
Despite winning Wimbledon last year, Swiatek could not make the most of the season, suffering two semifinal exits at the Australian Open and the French Open, before losing in the US Open’s quarterfinals.
She partnered with coach Francisco Roig in April, working to improve her serve and forehand.
But the results were not immediate as she exited the French Open in the fourth round, before a third-round stumble at Wimbledon.
But the eighth seed clinched a smooth victory in the US Open’s first round, boosting her confidence as the six-time Grand Slam winner looks to claim a second US Open title.
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“I just feel like my work clicked. All these things that I needed to do with Francis … it became more automatic,” Swiatek said. “I’m happy that this work paid off and it’s getting the results now.”
Top men’s match: Daniil Medvedev v Sebastian Gorzny
Former champion Medvedev has often struggled with consistency on the biggest stages, as he has yet to reach a Grand Slam’s quarterfinals since the 2024 US Open.
The 30-year-old suffered a third-round loss at Wimbledon in July and things went further downhill last month with early exits from three tournaments.
But Medvedev looked calm and determined as he beat Hugo Gaston in straight sets in the first round.
“Last couple of weeks weren’t easy, but you know how it is, sometimes you lose matches, sometimes you win … I’m really glad the way I played,” said Medvedev.
But for Medvedev, known for his fiery temper and frequent on-court outbursts, maintaining consistency has been the biggest challenge, and he will be tested by wildcard Sebastian Gorzny, who made his Grand Slam main draw debut with a first-round win over world number 38 Raphael Collignon.
Jessica Peyes ranking summit
Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in the US Open final in 2024 and last year’s semifinals, is not worried that she has yet to win a major. The American, ranked number three in the world, is more interested in reaching the summit of the WTA rankings, dethroning Sabalenka.
“I’d like to win a major, and I think the number one spot will be more available if I’m able to do that,” she said after a comfortable win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round.
Pegula, who started the year at number six, reached the Australian Open semifinals and the last eight at Wimbledon as she rapidly closed the gap with Sabalenka.
“When I was younger, I never really said I wanted to (win) Wimbledon or I wanted to win the US Open. I actually wanted to be number one in the world. I definitely hold a lot of value in that,” the 32-year-old added.
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