Swiatek Wins In Three Sets

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US Open 2023: Swiatek Struggles to Overcome Rakhimova

Swiatek Wins in Three Sets

World No. 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek overcame a spirited effort from lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova to win her opening match at the US Open on Monday.

A Tough Battle

Swiatek, who has won two of the season's four Grand Slams and boasts a tour-leading 58 match wins, struggled to find her rhythm against the 131st-ranked Rakhimova.

Rakhimova, who entered the tournament as a last-minute replacement for injured Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, took the first set 6-4, forcing Swiatek to dig deep.

Swiatek Regroups

The Polish star responded by winning the second set 6-2, breaking Rakhimova twice. She continued her momentum in the third set, breaking Rakhimova three times to seal the 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Key Takeaways

• Swiatek faced an unexpected challenge from Rakhimova.
• The world No. 1 showed resilience to come back from a set down.
• Swiatek will face No. 27 seed Sloane Stephens in the second round.

Expert Analysis

"This was a good test for Swiatek," said tennis commentator Mary Carillo. "She had to show that she could handle adversity and fight her way back into the match."

Conclusion

Swiatek's victory serves as a reminder that even the top players can face challenges at the Grand Slams. However, her ability to overcome adversity and win in three sets demonstrates her mental toughness.

As she looks ahead to the rest of the tournament, Swiatek will need to be at her best to defend her title and add to her impressive Grand Slam record.

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