Queens, NY — Iga Swiatek wasted no time making her presence felt at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, rolling past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-1, 6-2 in a dominant first-round performance under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2022 champion and current world No. 2 showed no signs of rust or nerves as she began her quest for another title in New York. The biggest challenge she seemed to face was the glaring afternoon sun, not her opponent, as she cruised through the match without facing a single break point.
“It’s never easy to find your rhythm in the first match,” Swiatek said afterward. “But overall, it was a solid start.”
Swiatek, who has already reached the semifinals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year, broke Arango early in the first set and never looked back. Hitting with trademark accuracy and confidence from the baseline, the Polish star struck 26 winners—far outpacing Arango’s five—and dropped just one point behind her first serve in the opening set.
She sealed the set with a clean forehand winner, drawing applause and cheers from a vocal contingent of Polish supporters scattered throughout the stands. “Polish fans seem to be everywhere,” she said with a smile. “It’s always great to feel that support.”
The 24-year-old came into New York on a high, having captured the Cincinnati title just days earlier. She even entered the mixed doubles draw, where she reached the final alongside Norway’s Casper Ruud—proof of her confidence and energy heading into the year’s final Slam.
In the second set, Swiatek broke in the opening game and kept her foot on the gas. Arango, struggling to find her rhythm, committed a string of unforced errors—five in total for the set—including a mistimed shot into the net that handed Swiatek a second break. Frustrated, the Colombian let out a cry as the match slipped away.
Swiatek will face Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in the second round as she continues her pursuit of a seventh Grand Slam title.
