Fresh off her historic Wimbledon triumph, tennis sensation Iga Swiatek made a commanding return to the hard courts, effortlessly advancing to the third round of the prestigious National Bank Open in Montreal.
Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, demonstrated her unparalleled form by dispatching China’s Guo Hanyu with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory on Wednesday. This dominant performance served as a clear statement of intent, picking up right where she left off on her championship run.
Playing her inaugural match since her resounding 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final, Swiatek swiftly established a 4-0 lead, extending her remarkable games winning streak to an impressive 24. Her focus remained steadfast, adapting seamlessly to the new surface conditions.
Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek expressed satisfaction, stating, “I think I played a really solid match today.” She further emphasized the inherent challenges of transitioning to hard courts after a prolonged break, highlighting her ability to “just focused on myself, adjusted to the conditions and played well.”
Beyond Swiatek’s stellar opener, the women’s singles draw at the National Bank Open saw other top contenders secure their spots. Two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula of the United States navigated a tough encounter against Greece’s Marie Sakkari, prevailing 7-5, 6-4. Similarly, fifth-seeded Amanda Anisimova, also representing the United States, advanced by defeating New Zealand’s Lulu Sun 6-4, 7-6 (5).
On the men’s side of the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canadian talent Gabriel Diallo delivered a strong performance, overcoming Italy’s Matteo Gigante 6-3, 7-6 (5) to reach the third round. Diallo’s win follows his recent success, having claimed his maiden ATP Tour title last month in the Netherlands, indicating a promising trajectory for the young player.
Further cementing the competitive nature of the men’s draw, fourth-seeded American Ben Shelton secured a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory over French qualifier Adrian Mannarino. Concurrently, sixth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev showcased his formidable skill by topping Hugo Gaston of France with an identical 6-2, 6-3 scoreline, setting the stage for more exciting tennis action in the tournament’s subsequent rounds.
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