The favorite of the National Bank Open in Toronto, the formidable Iga Swiatek, had no trouble winning her first match of the tournament on Wednesday, defeating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
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The Pole is back in Ontario, where she fully realized her potential three years ago. Now world number 1, she made a grand entrance on center court in just 64 minutes to get rid of the 72nd racket in the WTA.
“I’m pretty happy to have been able to play my way,” said the winner at a press conference. It was my first game and it’s never easy. However, I feel like I found my rhythm and I had a solid performance.”
Swiatek was solid on serve with 73.1% of the points won on his first serve and three aces. It was quite the opposite for Tomljanovic, who was never in the game with the balls in hand. The Australian, however, broke her rival’s serve twice in the second set.
It was precisely in Toronto in 2019 that the two players had crossed paths for the only time. Down 4-1 in the first set, Tomljanovic was forced to retire due to injury.
It was already the fourth match at the National Bank Open for the 29-year-old tennis player, who had to go through the qualifications. Swiatek, she had obtained a pass in the first round.
In the round of 16, the favorite will face the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. The latter surprised Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez.
Americans do well
Earlier on the National Bank Grandstand court, American Coco Gauff defeated Kazakh Elena Rybakina in three sets of 6-4, 6-7(8) and 7-6(3).
It was not easy for the 10th seed in Toronto, she who notably experienced all kinds of trouble when she was in possession of the balls. Gauff also committed an impressive total of 13 double faults. In the round of 16, she will face the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Seventh-seeded American Jessica Pegula beat compatriot Asia Muhammad in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. She will face in the next round the Italian Camila Giorgi, who after defeating the British Emma Raducanu, defeated the Belgian Elise Mertens in two sets of 6-3 and 7-5.
Alison Riske, also from the United States, beat 16th-placed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia with difficulty, needing 2h 21m to win 7-6(2), 0-6, 7-5.
The American Amanda Anisimova, falling from the Canadian Carol Zhao, for her part lowered the flag in front of the Czech Karolina Pliskova (14th) in two identical sets of 6-1. The meeting lasted 53 minutes.
Romania’s Simona Halep (15th) defeated China’s Shuai Zhang in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. She will face Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, who upset second-seeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit in two identical sets at 6-4. The latter had also been eliminated in her first match at the National Bank Open last year.
The Tunisian Ons Jabeur (5th) withdrew after losing a round against the Chinese Zheng Qinwen.