By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday January 16, 2023
Iga Swiatek won two tight sets to book her spot in the second round at the Australian Open.
Photo Source: Getty
Faced with the first task of a challenging draw at the 2023 Australian Open, Iga Swiatek calmly went about her business and notched a satisfying 6-4 7-5 victory over Germany’s Jule Niemeier, the World No. 69 on Monday at the Australian Open.
The World No.1 was thrust into a tense contest with the talented 23-year-old and needed to find her best tennis at the conclusion of both sets to get the win. She did so, improving to 2-0 against Niemeier, and was able to book a second-round clash with Colombia's Camila Osorio in precisely two hours.
"For sure I'm happy I was able to come back in second set and break back," Swiatek said. "That was an important moment, for sure.
"But, yeah, well, it's beginning of the season. First match of a first Grand Slam. So always tough. Jule is not an easy opponent, so I'm happy I'm through and going to be able to play more matches here."
Swiatek hit 20 winners against 28 unforced errors but managed to play her best in the business end of each set. She broke Niemeier to claim the opening set, and rallied from a break down in the second set, breaking for 5-all and again for 7-5 to clinch her win.
Swiatek has now won 22 of her last 24 Grand Slam singles matches dating back to her semifinal run at the Australian Open last year.
Swiatek, who improved to 4-1 on the season, has not faced 84th-ranked Osorio before.
This year, Swiatek arrives in Australia with greater expectations.
"At the beginning of last year I didn't have that much confidence that I can also win big titles on hard court 'cause all of them basically happened last season," Swiatek said. "Also before I think the media kind of described me as a clay court player. Maybe that got into me a little bit.
"But, yeah, for sure working with Tomas, I don't know, I just felt like I can be more aggressive on hard court, I don't have to be the baseline player. I really used that in my matches, then the results kind of showed me that I'm going right direction."