US Open: World No 1s Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner ease into third round at Flushing Meadows

Women’s world No 1 Iga Swiatek lost just one game as she ruthlessly dispatched Japan’s Ena Shibahara to reach the third round of the US Open.

Swiatek, champion at Flushing Meadows in 2022, was given a test by lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in round one before coming through 6-4 7-6 but the Pole made light work of Shibahara and will next face either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Shibahara won the second game of the second set to avoid the double bagel but was beaten in just over an hour.

Swiatek said: “I was trying to be really solid and picked the right shots. I was proactive and am happy with everything.

“I was a bit tense in my last match so I just wanted to focus on the right things, focus on myself and what I want to do.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the score. Sometimes when it goes quick, your mind can drift off and you feel too safe, so I was trying to stay in the zone. It didn’t matter if it was 6-0 or 3-3.”

Sinner wins in convincing fashion

Men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner also progressed in routine fashion, comfortably beating young American hopeful Alex Michelsen in straight sets.

Sinner dropped only six games as he triumphed 6-4 6-0 6-2 against the 20-year-old, who battled hard in the first set but faded badly over the final two.

In the early exchanges, Michelsen twice came back from a break down against Sinner, levelling things up at 4-4 the second time before the Italian finally pulled clear.

Sinner found another gear in the second set, bageling his young opponent as he rattled off eight games in a row.

Michelsen briefly rallied in the third before Sinner earned the decisive break for a 3-2 lead, going on to close out the match inside 100 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Sinner will face Christopher O’Connell in the next round after the Australian beat Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Osaka’s Arthur Ashe homecoming ruined by Muchova

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka saw her hopes ended by Karolina Muchova in a 6-3 7-6 (7-5) defeat.

Osaka, who wore an outlandish outfit featuring a big bow, was playing for the first time on the main court at the US Open since 2022.

But unfortunately for the Japanese star, a place in the third round came gift-wrapped for Muchova, who dispatched her.

Still, these are encouraging baby steps for Osaka on her return to the sport following the birth of her first child. The 26-year-old has also regularly spoken about her mental health battles.

Muchova, a semi-finalist in New York last year, will now face Anastasia Potapova and has a presentable chance of going deep into the tournament again.

The Czech, who underwent wrist surgery in February, said: “Look around, this is unbelievable, the atmosphere and the people, it is crazy energy and I love it.

“I am really happy with how I performed today.

“This year the biggest win for me is that I can play again, I am really grateful, this is just the cherry on top to be here.”

Rybakina withdraws through injury

Women’s fourth seed Elena Rybakina has pulled out through injury, handing France’s Jessika Ponchet a walkover.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion said: “Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries.

“I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong.

“Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to support me, and I wish the remaining players good luck.”

What else happened on day four?

Seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz and 16th seed Sebastian Korda were dumped out losing to Jordan Thompson and Tomas Machac respectively early on day four in the men’s singles.

Hurkacz was beaten 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 7-5 as Thompson set up a third-round meeting with Italian 30th seed Matteo Arnaldi, while Machac will now take on David Goffin or Adrian Mannarino,

Tenth seed Alex de Minaur defeated Otto Virtanen 7-5 6-1 7-6 (7-3) and will face Dan Evans next.

Teenager Mirra Andreeva was a casualty in the women’s singles with the 21st seed ousted 6-1 6-4 by USA’s Ashley Krueger.

But fifth seed Jasmine Paolini advanced after opponent Karolina Pliskova withdrew through injury and sixth seed Jessica Pegula saw off fellow American Sofia Kenin 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

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