New York, USA — World No. 1 Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run at the 2024 US Open on Sunday, defeating Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2 to secure her place in the next round. The Polish star, known for her powerful and versatile game, showcased her top form as she cruised past her opponent in straight sets.
The match had an extra layer of excitement for Swiatek, as tennis legend Serena Williams was in attendance, leaving the young star awestruck. Swiatek, who has often cited Williams as a major inspiration, was thrilled to see her idol courtside.
Serena Williams, 42, was spotted sitting between Tommy Paul and Gabriel Diallo, a fitting spot for someone who once ruled the WTA rankings with unmatched dominance. Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, couldn’t hide her excitement about the encounter.
Swiatek on Meeting Her Idol, Serena Williams
In the post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked about her ongoing efforts to improve her game despite being the top-ranked player in the world.
“I think everywhere, honestly. It’s not like my tennis is perfect. It sometimes feels weird because I’ve been number one and winning these tournaments, but I still feel like I really need to work on some stuff,” Swiatek said. “But since I started working with Tomasz, I’ve been feeling like I have more variety and options on court. I’ll try to give them more opportunities to smile because for sure it’s not easy for the coach to smile. So I’ll try to play the best tennis possible so we all can enjoy it.”
Swiatek also opened up about her experience of meeting Serena Williams before the match. The two were seen chatting, and Swiatek admitted to being starstruck by the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
“It was really nice to see her. She has a lot of positive energy. It’s nice that she came on-site and was chatting with the players, because for me, yeah, I still felt, even though we met before and for like a couple of years we have been on the same sides and on tour together, she’s still like star-striking me (smiling),” Swiatek said with a grin.
She added, “It was nice that she approached me, because I wouldn’t, for sure, find the courage to do that (smiling) if it was the other way. But, yeah, she’s really nice and really positive.”
Swiatek expressed her happiness that Williams, despite being retired, still follows the sport and supports her.
“I’m happy that she’s following tennis, you know, and, like, my game, because she told me that she’s cheering for me. It’s always nice to hear that from somebody like Serena.”
Next Challenge: Liudmila Samsonova
Looking ahead, Swiatek will face Liudmila Samsonova in the next round of the tournament on Monday, where she hopes to continue her impressive form and move closer to another Grand Slam title.
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