It was supposed to be a walk in the (Melbourne) park. For a while it was anything but.
A fast start by China’s Yuan Yue raised a few eyebrows on Day 2, as six-time Grand Slam champion took the court to begin her quest for the Career Slam inside Rod Laver Arena for the night session.
The Chinese, who had claimed just three games in their last meeting, led by 2-0, 3-1 and 5-3 in the opening set, thanks to an aggressive mindset and some stellar execution, but Swiatek eventually restored order, breaking serve as Yuan served for hte opening set at 5-4 and taking the first-set tiebreak.
Yuan, ranked 130 (career-high No.36), was the significant underdog in the contest. In addition to her lopsided loss to Swiatek in Beijing last year, she entered the match on an 11-match losing streak at the majors, and Swiatek made sure it hit 12 as she took over the contest and notched a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory to improve to 27-1 lifetime in the opening round of Grand Slams.
In the second set things went smoothly for Swiatek. She broke in the first game and cosolidated for 2-0. Another break for 3-0 came quickly, as the trainer came out to treat Yuan’s back.
She played on but didn’t have the same energy as she had displayed in the first.
Swiatek marched to victory unimpeded from there, improving her career record at the Grand Slams to 105-21.
The second-seeded Pole, a two-time Australian Open semifinalist, will face either Marie Bouzkova or Renata Zarazua in the second round.
Swiatek, who has won four Roland-Garros titles in addition to one US Open and one Wimbledon title, is bidding to beconme the seventh woman in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam, and the third youngest to achieve the feat, older than only 19-year-old Steffi Graf and 21-year-old Serena Williams.
