Swiatek made to work hard in victory over lucky loser

World number 1 Iga Swiatek was made to activity difficult to hit fortunate loser Kamilla Rakhimova successful nan US Open first round.

Poland's Swiatek was not astatine her champion successful a 6-4 7-6 (8-6) triumph that took conscionable nether 2 hours connected Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek, champion successful New York successful 2022, made her trademark speedy start, racing retired to a 4-0 first-set lead, but Rakhimova rescued a break earlier Swiatek served it out.

The apical seed went up an early break successful nan 2nd group but her vexation was evident erstwhile she swiped angrily astatine a shot aft a agelong forehand gave nan break back.

Rahkimova, who mislaid successful nan last information of qualifying, kept successful touch pinch Swiatek and had 3 group points successful nan tie-break to unit a decider.

However, Swiatek upped her aggression erstwhile it mattered to unafraid triumph and group up a second-round gathering pinch either Daria Saville of Australia aliases Japan's Ena Shibahara.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek won her 3rd successive French Open title successful June and secured an affectional Olympic bronze badge past month.

However, she has only gone beyond nan 4th information erstwhile successful six appearances successful New York - and that was erstwhile she won nan title 2 years ago.

Britain's Katie Boulter was among nan early winners connected nan 2nd day's play astatine Flushing Meadows, coming from a group down to hit Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Among nan different players successful women's first-round action connected Tuesday are Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, erstwhile Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan, who faces 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko.