The adage goes that it is never easy being at the top, and in the case of the Iga Swiatek seed in the 2024 US Open, reality was no different. As she stepped onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium to play against Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals, pressure was high. Swiatek wasn’t just defending her top spot but in pursuit of an upheaval over the US Open-a task she has accomplished only once before, in 2022.
A Difficult Encounter with Pegula
The match started very well for Pegula, who started with excellent strides on the court, going on to win 6-2, 6-4. As far as Swiatek is concerned, a mediocre result was achieved; the outcome was clear; the Americans won, although the result was not surprising. One-sided Swiatek managed not to express her usual and proverbial dominance.
Part of Iga Swiatek’s problem was the pressure that came along with holding the title of the world’s best player. Ranking notwithstanding, Swiatek has not had an easy time of it on big stages this year, and New York proved no different. Pegula seized on the electrified atmosphere of a crowd that seemed to get behind its girl from Buffalo.
Errors Pile Up for Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek herself identified one big problem: errors. She committed 41 unforced errors in the match, a stat Swiatek did not beat around the bush about. It’s just math, she said, looking back at how those errors were the significant difference in her loss. It’s evident that with such a high error count, no player is likely to win.
The US Open has always been somewhat of an enigma for Iga Swiatek. Her game, which flourishes on the clay courts, hasn’t translated as smoothly to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Even her 2022 victory, though weighty in significance, came with its set of challenges. She admitted to feeling uncomfortable and not quite natural on the court during that run.
Reflecting on Goals and Expectations
Speaking after the match, Iga Swiatek discussed how she is focused more on personal development than simply results. “My goals for this tournament were to solve some problems and work on my game,” she said, rather than building expectations from outside. This perspective has formed part of her broader approach to dealing with the pressures of being a top player.
This defeat did not blemish Iga Swiatek’s run in the tournament as proof that indeed she is a good player. The performance to reach the quarterfinals was better compared to last year when she was eliminated in the Round of 16. She has risen further this year, but she has yet to overcome all obstacles presented by the US Open.
It’s a huge victory for Jessica Pegula: her first-ever semifinal at a Grand Slam and with an excellent display, sound and solid. The victory against Swiatek will remain, in Pegula’s career when this will be advanced, the guarantee that she will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best.
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