Swiatek to sharpen hardcourt skills in Cincinnati with US Open approaching – Sports

CINCINNATI: Iga Swiatek is expecting a tough return to hardcourt tennis at the Cincinnati Open, but the top-ranked Pole said she won’t put pressure on herself and will approach the WTA 1000 event as a “practice tournament” for the US Open.

Swiatek last played on the surface at the Miami Open in March and went on to win titles on clay in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros before bowing out in the third round on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

After swapping grass for clay again earlier this month to win bronze at the Roland Garros Olympics, the 23-year-old heads into her campaign in Cincinnati with moderate expectations.

“I know the first tournament on hard court is not going to be easy,” said Światek, who will play either Ajla Tomljanovic or Varvara Gracheva in the second round this week. “So I’m going to try to see it as a practice tournament, but not in a way that I don’t care – more in a way that I want to implement all the things I’ve been practicing. I think that’s the best approach for me right now.”

Swiatek said Cincinnati was the ideal location to start over after a busy few months on tour as she prepares for the US Open from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8, where she hopes to win a second title and her sixth Grand Slam title overall.

“I felt like after the Olympics I had to reset and focus on getting my technique back and just grinding through the court,” Swiatek said. “This is the perfect place to do that. It feels a little less crazy, but on the other hand, even before the tournament there are a lot of people and a lot of fans. So you still feel like it’s an important tournament.”

SINNER HELPS WITH HIP PROBLEM

Meanwhile, men’s world number one Jannik Sinner said he is not worried about a hip problem he has been struggling with in recent months and is looking forward to getting back on court in Cincinnati.

The 22-year-old player had been struggling to come to terms with the injury he sustained in Madrid in May, which appeared to have worsened when he was surprisingly defeated by Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals in Montreal on Saturday.

However, Sinner attributed his problems to the intensity of recent competitions, after missing the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis.

“I feel pretty good. Obviously I didn’t practice for almost a week, and when I played two or three days in a row, a little bit more than normal, (that) could have had (a) potential impact on the hip,” Sinner told reporters. “But I’m not scared. I feel good with the hip, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field here.”

Flavio Cobolli saved three match points on Monday and came back to beat No. 13 Tommy Paul and advance to the second round.

The 22-year-old Italian defeated the American 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the first match of the US Open training event. Cobolli’s next opponent will be compatriot Luciano Darderi or Alejandro Tabilo of Chile.

Published in Dawn, August 14, 2024