World No. 1 Iga Swiatek comes from behind to defeat Jule Niemeier, advancing to US Open quarterfinals
In a battle of two old friends, Iga Swiatek became the unlikely victor of a riveting battle in New York City over the weekend at the US Open.
Swiatek made the most of a break point to break Niemeier early in the second set.
Swiatek had never lost a set this hard on a hard courts at any level of tennis, so he knew the game was starting to change, but he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity when it came.
Swiatek said the early break point “was the only break point I felt really comfortable with,” adding, “I didn’t feel there was any way I could lose this second set.”
Swiatek said she will try to do it at home against Ekaterina Makarova or Barbora Zahlavova-Stipic.
Swiatek is now 2-0 in mixed doubles, with a win over Ekaterina Kozlova in the US Open quarterfinals at the end of 2013.
“I’m really happy to get to this tournament,” Swiatek said. “I play these tournaments as a final chance. I’m glad I could put on a good show, that I can have an opportunity to go to the finals.
“It’s not easy for me to play in a good tournament, and make the finals. I’m really happy.”
Swiatek was playing in her first major since last year’s US Open and she said she is happy to get back in the mix at the world’s biggest events.
Swiatek, who has not played at a major in a while, said she is now at the point where she is starting to get used to the big stage.
“I’ve just started to be comfortable to play in big events again. I like playing in big events, because at the beginning I wasn’t used to it
