WIMBLEDON 2024: IGA SWIATEK DEFEATS KENIN TO MARCH AHEAD, HURKACZ ADVANCES TO 2ND ROUND
World No.1 Iga Swiatek navigated a potentially tricky first-round match at Wimbledon, defeating fellow Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday, securing her 20th consecutive win.The Polish top seed, who has yet to find her comfort zone on grass and has never reached a final on the sport's slickest surface, faced a challenging opener against Kenin, who notably upset Coco Gauff in the 2023 opening round.
Swiatek's latest victory extends a remarkable winning streak that started during the clay-court season. She claimed her ninth and tenth WTA 1000 titles in Madrid and Rome, followed by her fifth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, before transitioning her dominance to the grass courts of Wimbledon.
This victory places Swiatek among an elite group of women in the Open Era to achieve multiple 20-match winning streaks before turning 24. She joins tennis legends such as Evonne Goolagong, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Justine Henin. Swiatek's previous remarkable streak happened in 2022 when she won 37 consecutive matches, capturing titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome, and Roland Garros, before her run was halted by Alize Cornet in the third round of Wimbledon.
Seventh-seeded Hubert Hurkacz showcased resilience in his opening match, rallying from a set down to defeat Moldova's Radu Albot. Hurkacz secured a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory, demonstrating his prowess on the grass courts of Wimbledon. The 27-year-old, currently ranked World No. 7 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), will face the winner between France's Arthur Fils and Switzerland's Dominik Stricker in the next round. Hurkacz, coached by American Craig Boynton, is in pursuit of his ninth career singles title and his first Grand Slam victory in London.
Last month, Hurkacz reached the final of the Halle Open in Germany, where he was narrowly defeated by Italy's World No. 1, Jannik Sinner. His current form and determination signal a promising run at this year's Wimbledon.
2024-07-02T17:58:15Z dg43tfdfdgfd