In the early stages of the Australian Open, both Iga Świątek and Hubert Hurkacz faced challenging opposition, but they overcame the difficulties to secure victories in their respective first-round matches.
Świątek Battles Through Tough Opener
For Iga Świątek, the world’s top-ranked female player, the Grand Slam Australian Open began with a demanding encounter against Sofia Kenin. The 22-year-old Pole demonstrated her resilience and skill, overcoming tough conditions to claim victory in two sets, with a scoreline of 7:6, 6:2.
The clash marked only the second meeting between Świątek and Kenin in senior tournaments, with the Polish player fondly remembering their previous encounter in the 2020 Roland Garros final, where she secured a 6:4, 6:1 triumph.
Kenin set the tone early in the match, aggressively executing effective backhands down the line and securing a break in Świątek’s second service game. However, Świątek’s response was decisive, breaking back in the third game and later dominating the tie-break to take the first set.
As the match progressed, Kenin’s precision faltered, leading to a series of forehand errors that allowed Świątek to break again. The Polish player maintained her momentum, cruising through the second set with a score of 6:2.
Lift-off for the World No. 1 🚀@iga_swiatek defeats former @AustralianOpen champ, Kenin, 7-6(2), 6-2 and now awaits the winner of Collins/Kerber in R2.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/uBWONpetJ4
— wta (@WTA) January 16, 2024
Świątek’s next challenge in the second round will be against Danielle Collins, setting the stage for another exciting showdown in the Australian Open.
Iga Świątek – Sofia Kenin 2-0 (7-6, 6-2)
Hurkacz Triumphs Over US Open Champion
Hubert Hurkacz faced a formidable opponent in the form of Australian qualifier Omar Jasika during the opening round of the Australian Open. The Polish tennis star, fondly known as “Hubi,” navigated a challenging three-set match, emerging victorious with a scoreline of 7:6, 6:4, 6:2.
Jasika, a former junior US Open champion in both singles and doubles, set a high bar for Hurkacz from the outset. Despite a brief pause in momentum during the match, Hubert’s powerful serves and strategic play allowed him to secure a crucial tie-break in the first set.
The Pole continued to dominate, displaying resilience and precision throughout the match. Surpassing 20 aces in the third set, Hurkacz capitalized on break opportunities to ultimately win the match 6:2 in the final set.
In the upcoming second-round clash, Hurkacz is set to face Czech player Jakub Mensik, who secured victory against Denis Shapovalov in three sets.
Hubert Hurkacz – Omar Jasika 3-0 (7:6, 6:4, 6:2)