Iga Swiatek explains what she did differently during her second round US Open victory

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World number one Iga Swiatek lost just a single game as she thrashed Japan’s Ena Shibahara to reach the third round of the US Open.

Since Olympic heartbreak, Iga Swiatek has responded in exactly the way expected of a true champion.

A run to the semi-finals in Cincinnati prior to her exploits in New York set her up for what hoped to be better run than last year’s defeat in the fourth round.

The 2022 champion was tested by Kamilla Rakhimova in round one before coming through 6-4, 7-6.

Swiatek however made light work of her Japanese opponent, with Shibahara’s win of just a single game seeing her beaten in just over an hour.

Iga Swiatek explains her different approach in her second round US Open match

After a straightforward opener nearly became messy, Swiatek’s second round match was the polar opposite.

Having ‘double bagelled’ Anastasia Potapova at Roland Garros in 40 minutes, Shibahara will be relieved she managed to steal a game from the world number one.

Explain her changed approach, she said: “I was trying to be really solid and pick the right shots. I was proactive and am happy with everything.

“I was a bit tense in my last match so I just wanted to focus on the right things, focus on myself and what I want to do.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the score. Sometimes when it goes quick, your mind can drift off and you feel too safe, so I was trying to stay in the zone. It didn’t matter if it was 6-0 or 3-3.”

Having spoken out about a jam-packed WTA schedule recently, the Pole will have been thrilled to get the job done so quickly.

Who is Iga Swiatek playing in the US Open third round?

With Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova coming back to beat Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the 27th seed sets up a clash with Swiatek on Saturday.

Speaking of thrashings, Pavlyuchenkova knows all too well the ruthless rules Swiatek often plays by, having been ‘double bagelled’ 6-0, 6-0, in their only match-up in Rome last year.

A former French Open finalist, the Russian will need to bring far more than what she’s offered so far if she is to challenge the top seed.

However, with upsets in the American air after Carlos Alcaraz was shocked by Botic van de Zandschulp, perhaps hope is not completely lost for Pavlyuchenkova.