Swiatek, Gauff Advance At US Open, Wozniacki Makes Statement; Pegula, Keys On Ashe

Top half favorites Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff both won straight set affairs Wednesday afternoon to advance to the third round at the US Open.

The world No. 1 Swiatek was sent out to Armstrong where she dispatched Daria Saville of Australia 6-3, 6-4. It wasn’t her best match, but the Pole wins her 9th straight in New York.

“For sure it wasn’t easy,” Swiatek told the crowd. “The rhythm of the match was kind of weird.”

Gauff drew Ashe in a good match-up on paper against the 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva. However, Gauff proved too powerful for the Russian in a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory.

“She’s the type of player that if you give her something she is going to take advantage,” said Gauff on court. “Today I think I did well by making her play off her back foot.”

In the evening, 2-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki continued her return after over 3.5 years to Grand Slam tennis with a statement 7-5, 7-6(5) win over world No. 11 Petra Kvitova.

Wozniacki showcased her defense, speed and tenacity that got her to No. 1 and to an Australian Open title.

The Dane will now face someone else who is having a comeback, Jennifer Brady. The 28-year-old Brady advanced past Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

The 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova dismissed Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-3. China’s Lin Zhu shocked an error-prone 3-time finalist Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3.

Elsewhere, American 27-year-old Taylor Townsend returned the the third round knocking out the 19th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-6(7-1), 7-5. 20th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko got through Russian 20-year-old Elina Avanesyan 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.

No. 32 seed Elise Mertens sent out Danielle Collins 3-6, 7-6(9-7), 6-1 saving two match points in the second set breaker. And Sorana Cirstea toppled Anna Kalinskaya in straights 6-3, 6-4.

Elena Rybakina had a day off after Ajla Tomljanovic withdrew with an injury.

Tomorrow, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka gets to see Brit Jodie Burrage for a first time. No. 3 Jessica Pegula will challenge Patricia Maria Tig also in a first-time tour-level collision.

No. 5 Ons Jabeur gets a rematch with Linda Noskova who beat the 2022 US Open finalist this year in January.

Wimbledon champion No. 9 Marketa Vondrousova tests Martina Trevisan, No. 13 Daria Kasatkina clashes with Sofia Kenin, No. 14 Liudmila Samsonova squares off against Tamara Korpatsch, No. 17 Madison Keys faces Yanina Wickmayer and No. 26 Elina Svitolina draws Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.