Poland’s Iga Swiatek demonstrated a commanding performance as she swiftly dispatched qualifier Danielle Collins in straight sets, securing a resounding 6-1, 6-0 victory to progress to the third round of the Cincinnati Open. Meanwhile, third seed Jessica Pegula encountered a spirited challenge in her opening match after triumphing at the Canadian Open, eventually overcoming Martina Trevisan with a gritty 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3 win.
Swiatek, the world’s number one player, showcased her prowess by breaking Collins’ serve seven times and only facing two break points throughout the match. The dominant display concluded in an efficient 59 minutes, leaving Swiatek satisfied with her solid performance. “I feel like I was really solid and I didn’t make a lot of unforced errors,” Swiatek commented during her on-court interview. Her proactive approach and confidence from the outset laid the foundation for her successful campaign.
In the opening set, Swiatek surged ahead with a 3-0 lead. After trading service breaks, she capitalized on her advantage, sealing the set with her fourth break of Collins’ serve. The second set continued to showcase Swiatek’s control as she raced to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph, securing her spot in the next round.
While Swiatek dominated, Jessica Pegula faced an arduous battle in her first match since her victory at the Canadian Open. The American rallied from a slow start to eventually defeat Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan in a gutsy 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3 encounter. Pegula’s resilience shone through as she staged a comeback after losing the first-set tiebreak. Her quality became evident in the second set, and she maintained momentum to secure her 27th hardcourt win this year.
In another intense matchup, second seed Aryna Sabalenka faced a determined comeback attempt by U.S. qualifier Ann Li. Sabalenka clinched a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory, showcasing her resolve and hard-hitting prowess. Despite Li’s efforts to narrow the lead in the deciding set, Sabalenka maintained composure and sealed her victory with an unreturnable serve on match point, bolstering her impressive record for the year.
Other notable clashes saw Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed, emerge victorious after a three-set battle against Jelena Ostapenko, eventually securing a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4 triumph to advance to the round of 16. Veteran American Venus Williams, on the other hand, started strong but eventually succumbed to Zheng Qinwen, suffering a 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 defeat.
Young American talent Coco Gauff, seeded seventh, cruised past Mayar Sherif with a confident 6-2, 6-2 victory. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova secured a 6-4, 6-2 win against Anastasia Potapova, while Daria Kasatkina overcame Varvara Gracheva with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph.
As the Cincinnati Open continues to unfold, the competition intensifies, promising further displays of skill, determination, and exhilarating matchups on the tennis court.
