World No. 1 Iga Swiatek comes from behind to defeat Jule Niemeier, advancing to US Open quarterfinals.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Iga Swiatek didn’t disappoint in her US Open quarterfinal matchup with Jule Niemeier.
The 14-year-old No. 16 seed beat the 5-foot-3, 140-pounder 6-0, 6-2, to face the eighth-seeded Niemeier, who had played to a 3-3 tie with Swiatek to start the match but never really looked like making a bid for a third set.
“I didn’t really do anything on my serve,” Swiatek said. “I thought I had things going my way until she put up a lot of big balls. That took me out of my comfort zone, not to say that was a bad move, but that kind of sucked. She took the third set, though.”
Swiatek took a huge step in her development at No. 1 singles on the third weekend of the US Open, beating Iveta Benešová 6-2, 6-4 on Friday and then dethroning world No. 4 Li Na 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
The win improved Swiatek’s record in the Open to 5-0 in singles, putting her at No. 10 in the world and just ahead of the No. 6-ranked No. 5-seeded Benešová. Swiatek also moved into a tie for a spot in the Top 12 of the women’s top-100 singles rankings, with Benešová at No. 16 in the world.
Swiatek has been playing in the world’s premier tournament in the last week to get her game in shape for what she believes will be an even tougher quarterfinal round against No. 18 Jelle Maas in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
“In the last six weeks I’ve really just started playing good, and I felt really good right now,” Sw
