Defending champion Iga Swiatek produced another rock-solid performance in the U.S. Open 2023. The World No.1 defeated Kaja Juvan 6-0 6-1 on Friday, 1st September 2023 to enter the fourth round at the last Grand Slam event of the year. With the victory, Swiatek has now dropped just nine games through three rounds.
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Juvan is Swiatek’s friend as the both have grown through the junior ranks. However when she became an opponent, Swiatek was all down to business as she wasted no time in the contest. “For sure I didn’t like the fact that I was winning with my best friend. But I knew that I had to be really focused and not let myself think about that because it was really like playing against a sister,” said Swiatek after the match.
“I don’t have many friends but she’s my best friend. So yeah, that was the toughest part for sure,” she added. Swiatek was in total control against Juvan from the start. She dominated in all aspects of the match. In the opening set, she dropped just three points on serve and converted all three of her break points.
It was more one-way traffic in the second set. Swiatek won the first 11 points en route to a 3-0. Juvan finally got on the board after 40 minutes with a hold following which the world number 145 smiled and playfully raised her arms in triumph. But the moment was short-lived for Juvan. Swiatek restored order with a hold to love and then another break before closing out the match.
“Honestly, I kind of have to learn how to find more joy in that,” she said. “I talked to Roger (Federer) about that last week and the best way to approach it is really embrace it and really be proud and happy with your results.” Up next for Swiatek will be Latvian 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko, a 4-6 6-3 6-3 winner over American Bernarda Pera.
