New York – The US Open entered its second round on Wednesday with two storylines that matter to tennis fans across the nation. Seventh‑seed Daniil Medvedev, a former champion, is looking to shake off a string of early exits, while eighth‑seed Iga Swiatek, a six‑time Grand Slam winner, is building on renewed confidence.
Swiatek’s Confidence Boost
Swiatek, who captured Wimbledon last year, has struggled to translate that success into a consistent season, falling in the semifinals of both the Australian Open and the French Open before a quarterfinal loss at this US Open. In April she began working with coach Francisco Roig to sharpen her serve and forehand. The partnership did not produce immediate results – she exited the French Open in the fourth round and stumbled in the third round at Wimbledon – but the effort is now paying off.
After a smooth first‑round victory, Swiatek said, “I just feel like my work clicked. All these things that I needed to do with Francis … it became more automatic. I’m happy that this work paid off and it’s getting the results now.” The Polish star now has her sights set on a second US Open title.
Medvedev’s Quest for Consistency
Medvedev, the 30‑year‑old Russian, has not reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal since his 2024 US Open run. He suffered a third‑round loss at Wimbledon in July and endured early exits from three tournaments last month. Nevertheless, he displayed calm determination in a straight‑sets win over Hugo Gaston in the first round.
“The last couple of weeks weren’t easy, but you know how it is, sometimes you lose matches, sometimes you win … I’m really glad the way I played,” Medvedev said. Known for his fiery temper and occasional on‑court outbursts, maintaining consistency remains his biggest challenge as he prepares to face wildcard Sebastian Gorzny, who earned his Grand Slam debut with a first‑round upset of world No. 38 Raphael Collignon.
Other Top Contenders
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continues her title defense, while former finalist Jessica Pegula is focused on climbing to the world No. 1 ranking, believing a major win would open the path. Pegula, ranked third, said after her opening‑round win that she values the number‑one spot and is eager to claim it.
The US Open order of play for Wednesday includes matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, featuring a mix of established stars and rising talents.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
