‘Proud’ Iga Swiatek first Polish woman to reach US Open QF

Iga Swiatek celebrates defeating Jule Niemeier in the US Open fourth round. Pic/AFP

World No.1 Iga Swiatek became the first Polish woman to reach the US Open quarter-finals on Monday when she defeated Jule Niemeier in an error-strewn last-16 clash.

French Open champion Swiatek recovered from a set and a break down to see off her 108th-ranked German opponent, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Top seeded Swiatek will face US eighth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals.

In a mistake-riddled clash on Louis Armstrong Court, there were a total of 15 double faults, 12 breaks of serve and 76 unforced errors. "It's really satisfying. This is my first quarter-final in New York so I am really proud of it," said Swiatek.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Niemeier hadn't won a hardcourt match in her career before coming to New York. However, went into Monday's match not having dropped a set and fired up to repeat her Wimbledon journey where she had also beaten world number two Anett Kontaveit.

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The 23-year-old from Dortmund swept through the opener with breaks in the first and seventh games. She held her nerve in an eight-minute second game of the second set, saving two break points.

Niemeier sensed a shock victory when she broke for 2-1 but Swiatek eventually prevailed, taking a set which featured seven breaks of serve in 10 games. In the decider, the Pole raced to a 4-0 lead with the powerfully-built Niemeier only winning five points.

Moments later Swiatek completed victory with her 19th ‘bagel' set of the season to wrap up a place in a third Grand Slam quarter-final of 2022.

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