Iga Swiatek seals victory after a difficult debut match at the Australian Open 2024 against former champion Sofia Kenin

The WTA World No. 1 stepped up her game as she earned a hard-fought win against World No. 41 Sofia Kenin.

Iga Swiatek seals victory after a difficult debut match at the Australian Open 2024 against former champion Sofia Kenin

Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin (Image via: Imago)

The WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek seals a dominating victory over Sofia Kenin in the first round of the Australian Open. 

With the win, Swiatek convincingly qualifies for the second round of the tournament. Though Kenin posed a tough fight against the Polish player, it was not enough with the form Swiatek was in. The match continued for nearly 1 hour and 51 minutes. 

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Sofia Kenin was returning the ball well with her backhand, even when her left thigh was stripped. The Polish player opened up with a serve. 

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However, the American came back strongly, and the points were 3-1 to Kenin at one moment. But Kenin blundered in the sixth game as she made back-to-back double faults, allowing Swiatek to make it 3-3. The first round went to a tiebreak, in which Swiatek stepped up and got over the line. 

The second set of the match was even tight until game five when Kenin handed two breakpoints to the Polish player. Taking advantage of this, Swiatek clinched the second set and eventually the match (7-6, 6-2).

After the match, Swiatek opened up about her win and also applauded Kenin for her superb display of greeting.

Really happy, it's not easy to play the first match, especially the first Grand Slam of the season. Wasn't easy at the beginning to find my rhythm. And I felt a little bit off and Sofia did everything to keep it that way. I'm happy that I managed to get through the second set.
In the post-match conference she said

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Iga Swiatek marches on to the second round of the Australian Open

Both Swiatek and Kenin met in the 2020 French Open final, which Swiatek won, and since then, both players have not faced off against each other.

With the win, Swiatek took her winning tally to 17, the second-longest in her career. 

Iga Swiatek produced a super performance against an equally determined Sofia Kenin to win the first round of the Australian Open.
Iga Swiatek (image via: WTA)

After a tight first round against world No. 41 Kenin, Swiatek will have no time to be relaxed. She can be drawn against either Angelique Kerber or 2022 finalist Danielle Collins. 

However, with the form she is in, it will take a special performance to stop her at the moment. The Polish player started off her year in super fashion, winning the MVP at the United Cup, and hasn’t let her form dip since the Grand Slams.

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