Washington : World number one Iga Swiatek cruised into the third round of the US Open on Thursday with a comfortable straight sets win over former champion Sloane Stephens.Swiatek, who has never gone further than the fourth round in three previous appearances in New York, was in control throughout a 6-3, 6-2 win on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. The 21-year-old from Poland will face American Lauren Davis for a place in the last 16. Serena Williams showed she has no intention of ending her singles career without a fight after beating second seed Anett Kontaveit on another remarkable night at the US Open.Williams, ranked 605th and turning 41 next month, won 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-2 to stun the Estonian in New York.
The American recently announced her intention to retire after her home major and is now into the third round.Williams will play Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic next on Friday.
Playing more like a world number one than a player ranked outside the top 600, Serena Williams turned back the clock on Wednesday to stun world number two Anett Kontaveit 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 and move into the third round of the U.S. Open, putting her retirement plans on pause.Defeat has always been hard to swallow for the fiercely competitive Williams and the 40-year-old American’s relentless will to win was on full display during an absorbing two-hour 27 minute contest of unexpected high quality, breathless intensity and drama.