Iga Swiatek has just made a lightning start to her US Open campaign as the world No. 2 destroyed 84th-ranked Emiliana Arango 6-1 6-2 in an hour of play.
Swiatek, who lifted her maiden Cincinnati title before coming to New York, stormed past the opening set after winning five games in a row from 1-1. After taking the opener, the Polish tennis star also won the first two games of the second set. Arango managed to serve out the third game and end the No. 2 seed's seven-game run, but it didn't change much since the six-time Grand Slam champion earned another break in the seventh game to go 5-2 up before closing out the match in the following game.
During the match, Swiatek fired 26 winners, converted four of her six break point chances, and didn't face a single break. In the US Open second round, the former world No. 1 will look to clinch her seventh consecutive win when she takes on the winner of the match between world No. 66 Suzan Lamens.
Swiatek didn't want to call herself a US Open favorite but she is playing like one
After not winning a title for 13 months, Swiatek put up a very impressive Wimbledon run and ended her title drought in one of the best ways possible. As mentioned above, the 24-year-old also won Cincinnati since then. But she rejected the US Open title favorite label.
"Honestly, I think it doesn't make sense to call anyone the favorite. Women's tennis, I wouldn't say it's unpredictable because there are some girls that are constantly in the top and we are proving that we can play well throughout the whole season. But there are many players that play really good and can win the tournament... I got used to the expectations. Obviously after winning so many things, they are always going to be there," Swiatek said in her pre-tournament presser.
