0Iga Swiatek began her Cincinnati Open title defence in commanding fashion, overcoming a slow start to cruise past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday in Mason, Ohio. The seventh-seeded Pole shook off a shaky opening set before taking complete control, while several other leading contenders also advanced.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a tougher second set against Australia’s Talia Gibson, eventually winning 6-2, 7-6 (2), while second seed Elena Rybakina defeated American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-4. Coco Gauff also battled back from a set down to beat Liudmila Samsonova, while Mirra Andreeva and Elina Svitolina also secured wins.
Iga Swiatek Dominates Emiliana Arango
Seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland had the briefest of slow starts, but she quickly put it into overdrive and overwhelmed Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-0 to open her Cincinnati Open title defense Sunday in Mason, Ohio.
The world’s No. 5 player had to adjust to different playing conditions on a short turnaround from her championship run at the National Bank Open in Toronto, which didn’t end until Thursday.
Swiatek endured 17 unforced errors in the first set, but she settled down and only recorded four in the second set.
But Swiatek scored her seventh straight match win with a 72-minute victory, winning seven of eight service games and five of seven return games in the romp.
“I’m happy that I was patient and came back in the second set knowing what to improve,” Swiatek said.
She’ll face Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the round of 32.
Coco Gauff Fights Back Against Liudmila Samsonova
Things didn’t come as easily in the second round for No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, who dug herself an early hole but rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.
After Gauff was broken twice in the first set — including in the first game of the match — she saved both break-point chances she faced over the final two sets. The American, coming off a run to the semifinals in Toronto, overcame winning just 36% of her second-serve points by winning 81% of her first-serve points and 54% of her second-return points.
Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina Advance
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus took care of business in her opener with a 6-2, 7-6 (2) defeat of Australia’s Talia Gibson. Sabalenka failed to convert five match-point chances in her final service game but still managed to win the tiebreaker with ease, finishing the match with 13 aces.
“Talia played great tennis and was more aggressive in the second set,” Sabalenka said. “She put more pressure on my service games. I’m glad I stayed calm and pulled it out in straight sets.”
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, seeded second, also had an easy time with American Taylor Townsend, winning 6-3, 6-4. Rybakina was dominant on second serves, winning 23 of her 32 points there (71.9%).
Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina Also Progress
Fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia also coasted, downing Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-0 in 64 minutes. Andreeva saved all seven break points she faced.
In the final match of the day, No. 8 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine overcame adversity, rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 defeat of Czech Tereza Valentova.
Other Sunday winners included Americans Ann Li, Iva Jovic, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys; Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova, Katerina Siniakova and Sara Bejlek; Indonesia’s Janice Tjen; Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk; China’s Xiyu Wang; and Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.