Share

Swiatek routs 'best friend' Juvan to reach last 16

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Iga Swiatek at the US Open. (Getty Images)
Iga Swiatek at the US Open. (Getty Images)

World number one Iga Swiatek demolished "best friend" Kaja Juvan in straight sets on Friday to march into the last 16 at the US Open.

Swiatek, who has been a close friend of Juvan since her youth tennis playing days, showed no mercy to the Slovenian world No 145 with a 6-0, 6-1 victory on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

READ | Defending champ Alcaraz proves too strong for SA's Harris

"For sure, I didn't like the fact I was winning with my best friend," Swiatek said afterwards. "It was like playing against a sister because I've known her for so long.

"I don't have many friends, but she's my best friend."

The 49-minute drubbing sends defending champion Swiatek into a fourth-round meeting with either Latvian 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko or Bernarda Pera of the United States.

On Friday's form, Swiatek will take some stopping if she is to be denied a place in the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old from Warsaw was utterly ruthless from the outset against Juvan, racing through the first set in just 24 minutes after four straight breaks of serve.

She kept up the barrage in the second set, reeling off 13 straight points on the way to opening up a 3-0 lead.

Juvan earned some well-deserved applause by holding her serve to make it 3-1, but the respite was fleeting.

Swiatek held and then broke Juvan again for a 5-1 lead before easily holding to complete a quickfire win.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
68% - 1560 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
32% - 727 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE