Iga Swiatek is thriving at the US Open, but she appears to have little interest in the biggest spotlight New York can offer.
The world No. 8 advanced to the fourth round Saturday with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 7-6(3) victory over 25th-seeded Marie Bouzkova on the Grandstand court — a venue that holds just over 8,000 spectators, far fewer than the nearly 24,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium.
And Swiatek made it clear that she doesn’t necessarily miss the noise and spectacle of Ashe.
“Ashe is really alive. Sometimes too much, I’d say.”
The Polish star said the Grandstand feels smaller, simpler and more “normal,” making it easier to focus compared with the enormous main stadium.
Swiatek survives a physical battle
Her preference for a quieter court did not mean Saturday’s match was easy.
Bouzkova repeatedly dragged Swiatek into long baseline exchanges and forced the six-time Grand Slam champion to fight for almost every point. Swiatek made 34 unforced errors but remained composed when the sets reached their decisive moments.
She saved three set points in the second set before dominating both tiebreaks 7-3.
The victory also marked the first time in Swiatek’s career that she won two tiebreaks in the same match. She has now reached the US Open fourth round for the sixth consecutive year.
A turnaround season is gaining momentum
The victory is another sign of Swiatek’s resurgence.
The 2022 US Open champion arrived in New York after winning the Canadian Open last month and working with veteran Spanish coach Francisco Roig, who joined her team in April. Swiatek said this period has been the most positive part of her season and that she is enjoying playing good tennis again.
She has also reached the second week in New York without dropping a set.
But her path is about to get considerably more difficult.
Now comes Zheng Qinwen
Swiatek’s fourth-round opponent will be China’s Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion who fought back from 5-0 down in the deciding set to defeat No. 22 seed Madison Keys, 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5. Zheng also saved a match point during the comeback.
The matchup carries significant history.
Zheng famously ended Swiatek’s 25-match winning streak in their Olympic semifinal two years ago. Their meeting in New York now gives Swiatek another chance to settle one of the most intriguing rivalries in the women’s draw.
And while Swiatek may prefer the intimacy of the Grandstand, the pressure surrounding her next match could be anything but quiet.
Another player, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, also complained about the unusually loud atmosphere at the US Open, saying the noise level is very different from what players normally experience on tour.
The bigger picture
Swiatek’s US Open campaign is becoming more than just another Grand Slam run.
After a difficult stretch earlier in the season, she is once again looking like a serious title threat. She has won 13 of her last 14 matches, according to the WTA, with her only recent defeat coming against Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati semifinals.
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