NEW YORK: Former champion Iga Swiatek kicked off her US Open campaign with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango on Tuesday as the Pole aims to keep her hot streak on track in New York.

The blindingly bright sun appeared to be the biggest challenge the Wimbledon winner had to cope with at Arthur Ashe Stadium as she never faced a break point and sent over 26 winners compared to five from her opponent.

She will next play Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands.

“First matches aren’t easy to get used to the rhythm,” said Swiatek, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year. “For sure was a solid match.”

The 2022 champion unleashed her usual precision play to break unseeded Arango from the baseline in the fourth game and sprinted through the rest of the set from there, dropping only one of her first-serve points.

Swiatek broke her opponent in the opening game of the second set, where she produced just five unforced errors, and Arango shouted in frustration as she helped the six-times major winner to another break with a clumsy shot into the net in the seventh.

The 24-year-old had her devoted Polish fans on their feet as she closed it out with a forehand winner, giving a subdued celebration.

“Polish fans are kind of everywhere, it’s super nice to feel the support always,” said the world number two.

Swiatek arrived in New York in pristine form, showing no signs of fatigue as she entered the US Open mixed doubles a day after lifting the trophy at the Cincinnati tune-up tournament and reached the final with Norwegian Casper Ruud.

ALCARAZ CRUISES AS VENUS MAKES EMOTIONAL EXIT

On Monday, Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the second round with a straight-sets mauling of big-serving American Reilly Opelka, while veteran Venus Williams made an emotional exit at the hands of 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

Alcaraz, sporting a new buzz cut that has sparked plenty of chatter on social media, dismantled Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a second-round encounter with Italian Mattia Bellucci.

Williams, back at Flushing Meadows at the age of 45 after a year’s hiatus, fought bravely against Muchova, forcing a deciding set before bowing out 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

“I’m very proud of how I played,” said Williams, who was beaten 6-1, 6-1 on her last US Open appearance in 2023.

“I think for me getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy,” added Williams, who disclosed in 2011 that she had been diagnosed Sjogren’s, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.

“When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It’s not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer.”

Meanwhile, talented teen Mirra Andreeva crushed Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-1 with a near-flawless performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium but an error-strewn showing from Madison Keys saw the Australian Open champion upset 6-7(8/10), 7-6(7/3), 7-5 by Renata Zarazua in the first match on Arthur Ashe.

At number six, Keys is the highest seed to fall so far.

Zarazua, the only Mexican player in the main draw, saved seven break points across the match for her first win over a top-10 player in a gruelling, three-hour and 10-minute affair.

“Coming into the match I was like almost crying because I was really nervous but I think the crowd made it so chill for me,” she said. “I could hear some Mexican (fans) cheering so that was very nice.”

She will hope to recreate the magic in the second round against Frenchwoman Diane Parry, who had no problems eliminating twice Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova 6-1, 6-0 in her final professional match.

FONSECA THRILLS

Men’s 17th seed Frances Tiafoe lifted the home fans after Keys was sent packing, beating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6(8/6), 6-3 and closing out the afternoon programme on Ashe with his 19th ace.

The twice semi-finalist, who plays US qualifier Martin Damm next, joins fourth seed Taylor Fritz and sixth seed Ben Shelton in the second round as they aim to become the first American man to lift the US Open trophy in 22 years.

Jack Draper, a semi-finalist last year, dismissed Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(7/9), 6-2 and plays Belgian Zizou Bergs next.

Joao Fonseca brought the thrills to the Grandstand crowd as the 19-year-old Brazilian fan favourite kept his dream 2025 season on track with a 7-6(7/3), 7-6(7/5), 6-3 win over Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, setting up a meeting with 21st seed Tomas Machac.

Norwegian former finalist Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, beat Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(7/5), while Danish 11th seed Holger Rune battled past Dutchman Botic van De Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6(7/4) 7-6(7/2).

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2025