Iga Sviatek, the Polish tennis player and defending champion, advanced to the fourth round of the US Open with a close victory in two sets. In a tense and challenging match that went to tiebreaks in both sets, she defeated her opponent Maria Bozhkova with a score of ۷-۶ (۷/۳) and ۷-۶ (۷/۳).
Field Challenges and Strong Spirit
Sviatek referred to the physical and mental challenges after the match, saying: "This match was really tough. Many of the rallies were long, and I had to attack multiple times because Bozhkova had very good defense and returned all the balls." She also mentioned the impact of weather conditions and unexpected errors that occurred during the match.
However, Sviatek expressed satisfaction with her progress this season, adding: "Regarding confidence, I’m happy with the improvement. Playing the way I want and need to feels good." This year, she reached her first final in major tournaments and became the champion in Toronto, although she failed to defend her title in Cincinnati.
Looking Forward to Future Challenges
Sviatek now needs to prepare for a big challenge in the fourth round. She will face Zheng Qinwen, the ۲۰۲۴ Olympic champion. This Chinese tennis player, who was previously ranked fourth in the world, had to go through qualifying after a long recovery from elbow surgery.
However, she made a stunning comeback in her match against Madison Keys, winning ۱-۶, ۷-۶ (۷/۳), and ۷-۵, finishing the last seven games in her favor. This victory has established her as a serious opponent for Sviatek.
