US Open: Swiatek and Alcaraz in a hurry

In a clear boost of confidence, the world No.1 Iga Swiatek hurried, like Carlos Alcaraz for the men, to advance to the 3rd round of the US Open, where Serena and Venus Williams will host the evening in doubles, before the Rafael Nadal's second game.

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, ”welcomed the 21-year-old Polish, after dismissing 6-3, 6-2 the American Sloane Stephens, ex-winner of the event in 1h15.

To discover

• US Open: men's schedule

• US Open: ladies' schedule

In mid-August, in Ohio, as in Toronto just before, Swiatek had been stopped in the round of 16, then seeming very feverish, as if lacking in bearings, far from the stratospheric level which was his in the spring.

Irresistible, she had chained 37 victories and six titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome then Roland-Garros, until her fall in the third round at Wimbledon.

Her hardly convincing preparation seems to be only a bad memory and even the balls, objects of criticism on her part because different from those used by the men, do not seem to pose any more problems to her, as she has shown herself to be intractable against Stephens .

Read alsoUS Open: the “lioness” Serena Williams roars under the eye of the “Tiger”

This authoritative success is enough to give her confidence for her New York campaign, she who has never passed the stage of the round of 16 at the US Open.

Titled at Roland-Garros this year for the second time after 2020, Swiatek will face another American, Lauren Davis (105th) in the third round.

A few moments earlier, in the virtual anonymity of court N.17, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (26th) qualified, dismissing 6-2, 6-3 the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (65th).

This meeting, during which a Ukrainian flag was very briefly deployed in the stands, was announced tense in the context of the war born from the Russian invasion in this country.

A close ally, Belarus has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch attacks in Ukraine.

I just think she has such an important role, as a member of the WTA Players' Council, and also outside of tennis, in her country.

I think she could have done more.

Marta Kostyuk on Victoria Azarenka

The match ultimately went off without incident.

But when greeting each other at the end, Kostyuk initiated a slight clash of rackets - a gesture introduced during the Covid period - instead of shaking Azarenka's hand.

“

,” explained the Ukrainian.

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»

The Belarusian defended himself for not having wanted to speak to Kostyuk.

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“Former world No.1, triple finalist of the New York Major, she will be opposed in the next round to the Croatian Petra Martic (54th), who had the scalp of the Spaniard Paula Badosa (4th).

Other notable qualifiers among women, the American Jessica Pegula (8th), the Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza (10th) or the Swiss Belinda Bencic (13th).

Alcaraz in force

Among the men, Carlos Alcaraz (4th) passed in force in the third round, dominating without shaking the Argentinian Federico Coria (78th) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5.

After revealing himself in New York, where he had reached the quarter-finals, the 19-year-old phenomenon confirmed his explosion this year with four titles won, including the Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid.

Now in the costume of one of the main contenders for the title, he will have to confirm this status against the American Jenson Brooksby (43rd).

The Briton Cameron Norrie (9th), the Russian Andrey Rublev (11th) or the Italian Jannik Sinner (13th) also held their ranks, in three sets.

Rafael Nadal (3rd), who is looking to bring his record of Grand Slam titles to 23 in New York, will play the last scheduled match on the Arthur Ashe, against the Italian Fabio Fognini (35th).

Just before, on this same court, the show and the emotion should be there, within the framework of the famous “

” of Serena Williams, since she will play a doubles match with her older sister Venus.