The nail-biter moments are what tennis is all about! Iga Swiatek just survived a scare of her own in round two of the US Open against world No. 66 Suzan Lamens! But with six Grand Slam titles, including her 2022 US Open crown, Swiatek knows exactly how to handle the high stakes and the pressure that comes with it. She’s fresh off her maiden WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open and a straight-sets win in round one (6-1, 6-2) that marked her 65th consecutive first-round victory! Now, after another win, she’s feeling the tension and confidence to take on the US Open!

On Thursday, the Pole battled through three tough sets, taking the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, overcoming a scare at Arthur Ashe Stadium. When asked about the challenging second set, Iga didn’t mince words. “Well, I started better in previous sets, I would say. Then later on, I just went to feeling confident with my serve and went for it. I’m happy that I closed it pretty fast, even though I lost one break but still,” she said in her post-match interview.

She added, “It wasn’t an easy match, and I did make some mistakes, so I’m happy, in the end, that I could again be more productive.” With this win, she marks another milestone of reaching the R3 at all Grand Slams this decade as the only WTA player to do so! But it wasn’t an easy one. The second seed stormed through the first set, racing past her Dutch opponent and looking primed for the kind of dominant early-round win that has become her trademark.

The 24-year-old was twice a break up in the second set but saw her frustration mount as her level dipped, giving Lamens a way back into the contest. In the deciding set, Swiatek took control again. She moved a double break clear and wrapped up the match after two hours and six minutes of tense action. It was a hard-fought win, showing off her resilience and precision on New York’s biggest stage.

What pushed her through? Well, it’s all about resets, she explained: “I felt like it kinda depended on me and if I was going to make mistakes or not, and sometimes I did. But yeah, I probably got a little tight in the second set, and she for sure used the opportunity and was taking her chances, so yeah, not easy. But obviously, the third set is a reset; you gotta start from the beginning, and I knew I could, you know, do a little bit more.”

With the chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking and secure her seventh career Slam, Iga has plenty on her plate. But she’s doing well to keep the momentum going! But the Pole isn’t getting ahead of herself. She’s staying grounded and realistic about her chances at the US Open this time around. After all, she’s already pleased with her season.

Iga Swiatek’s blunt admission on taking the US Open title

Just a month ago, Iga owned Wimbledon, tearing through the draw and even finishing with a historic double bagel in the final. At the Canadian Open, she reflected on that dream run with trademark honesty. “I know that even if I play bad till the end of the year, I’m really happy with the season. You know, winning Wimbledon was just, I don’t know, not on my list this year at least. So, yeah, I’m super happy,” she said. While Montreal slipped away, she quickly struck back with the Cincinnati Open title, proving her game shines even when conditions don’t.

Then came New York. In her US Open debut against Emiliana Arango on Tuesday, Swiatek looked ruthless. She fired 26 winners to Arango’s five, ruled her serve with 76% of points won, and never faced a single break point. The 6-1, 6-2 scoreline? Pure dominance and a signal she’s here to roll.

That win also rewrote history. Iga Swiatek passed Monica Seles’ legendary Open Era mark for consecutive first-round victories. This was number 65 in a row, one more than Seles’ 64. The milestone also pushed her into the third round, making her the only woman to reach that stage at every Grand Slam this decade. Even stars like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff can’t match that feat.

Last year in New York, her run ended in the quarters against eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula. This year? With Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and history already behind her, the chase for something bigger is on. Can she go further? Share your thoughts below and follow all the latest US Open updates here!