US Open: Iga Swiatek advances to 3rd round, Naomi Osaka made to work hard

In the US Open women’s singles draw, two former champions Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka overcame tough second-round tests to book their places in the third round. While Swiatek advanced in straight sets, Osaka had to recover from the second set to seal the win.

Swiatek defeated Podorska 6-3, 6-2, while Osaka overcame a slight wobble in the second set to defeat Katerina Siniak. Osaka won the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

US OPEN 2026: LIVE NEWS

SWIATEC CRUISE OVERVIEW

Playing Nadia Podoroska for the first time since their French Open semi-final meeting six years ago, world number eight Swiatek produced a composed display to win on the grandstand in just over an hour.

Swiatek was especially sharp on her first serve, landing 79 percent and winning 78 percent of those points. She didn’t face a single break of serve.

Podoroskova’s best chance came late in the opening set when she won three break points and Swiatek led 5-3. The Pole saved them all and eventually converted her second set point after the Argentine sent her forehand wide.

There was little resistance in the second set as Swiatek raced to a 5-1 advantage before sealing the match with a superb backhand cross.

Podoroska finished with 11 winners and 12 unforced errors, but Swiatek’s stronger serve, return and net game kept her in check. In the third round, she will face either Harriet Dart or 25th seed Maria Bouzková.

OSAKA EXPERIENCES ANOTHER FEAR

Naomi Osaka was forced to work hard again but in the end she beat Kateřina Siniaková in two hours and two minutes.

The 13th seed appeared firmly in control after taking a 5-3 lead in the second set but lost four straight games to allow Siniak to level the match. Osaka then regrouped in the decider and won 6:1 without a break.

The victory means Osaka has reached the third round of the US Open for the eighth time in 10 appearances in the main draw. It’s also just the second season of her career, following 2018, in which she reached the third round at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Osaka will next face 20th seed Elise Mertens, who beat Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 7-6(5).

– The end

Published on:

03 Sep 2026 23:43 IST