Iga Swiatek makes her ‘most extreme schedule' look easy at US Open with mixed doubles dominance
Following her 7-5, 6-4 final win over Jasmine Paolini to earn her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday night, the world No. 2 took a private jet along with Carlos Alcaraz to New York to arrive in time for the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament Tuesday.
'Yeah, I stretched, did ice bath, quick shower, media, and after like [a] 1 ¹/₂ hour after the match, we already went to catch a plane,' she said at a press conference on the first day of the retooled two-day event. 'So that's it. Yeah, it was pretty fast.'
Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates winning the quarterfinal mixed doubles match with Norway's Casper Ruud against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti and Caty McNally of the U.S.
REUTERS
Swiatek landed around 1:30 a.m. and hardly slept before her first round mixed doubles match with Casper Ruud to face Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe.
Nevertheless, it didn't show on the court.
The duo rolled through the American pair 4-1, 4-2 in their first-round win, then went on to swiftly beat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals 4-1, 4-2. It was three victories in about 18 hours for the six-time Grand Slam winner.
'Honestly, it's much easier when you win a tournament because you have a lot of positive energy and adrenaline,' Swiatek said. 'No, I wouldn't say I felt that tired. I think I felt yesterday's match in my body because obviously the final is always, like, you get a little bit more tight. After the match, all the emotions, you can feel it in your body. … Also if I'm used to playing singles, then playing mixed doubles, it is less intense. You don't need to run that much. I'm enjoying it.'
Poland's Iga Swiatek and Norway's Casper Ruud celebrate winning their quarter final mixed doubles match against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti and Caty McNally of the U.S.
REUTERS
Ruud admitted he was 'concerned' as Swiatek advanced further into Cincinnati, thinking their pairing may be in jeopardy with the tight schedule. Unbeknownst to Swiatek, he also was in contact with her team while the Polish player was competing in the final.
'We both prepared each other if we were to do well in Cincinnati, that something might happen. We said that early when we planned,' he said.
'I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry,' a smiling Swiatek interrupted.
'I think it's her will in the end and she decided to show up here, which is wildly impressive because she got to bed 12 hours ago in her hotel in New York, and she is here,' Ruud added. 'She was here stretching, doing her warm-up at 10 a.m.'
The world No. 12 Norwegian will hang on to Swiatek's winning ways for Wednesday's semifinal round where they will face Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper en route to the $1 million final prize pot.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MLB, ESPN reportedly reach agreement for network to obtain rights to sell out-of-market games, ability to offer MLB.TV
ESPN and MLB are reportedly close to an agreement that would allow the network to carry and the rights to all out-of-market baseball games — and select in-market baseball games — according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The reported deal, which has not been signed yet, would give ESPN the ability to offer to fans as part of the network's newly-launched direct-to-consumer streaming service. ESPN officially announced that service Thursday. It's unclear exactly if — or how — the agreement will change how fans currently access per Marchand. But the network could require fans to have an ESPN direct-to-consumer subscription to get access to From The Athletic: It is not fully clear yet if out-of-market subscribers who pay for the package through cable or other linear subscription would still be able to receive that way. For digital consumers, fans are likely to need an ESPN direct-to-consumer subscription to go along with The overall new pricing for is not yet decided. In addition to that, ESPN would also obtain the rights to every out-of-network MLB game. That's essentially what already provides to customers, as the service offers out-of-network games to fans. But it would also presumably allow ESPN to sell rights for certain out-of-network games to other networks or subscription services. Events such as the Home Run Derby or "Sunday Night Baseball" could be sold to other networks by ESPN, which has previously held broadcast rights for those events. The network could also presumably sell any random out-of-market game to, as an example, Apple TV+. It's unclear if that's what the network has in mind if the deal goes through. ESPN is still expected to broadcast roughly 30 regular-season games per year, according to Marchand. Those games would presumably be available on the network, and not exclusive to its direct-to-consumer offering. As part of the deal, ESPN will also control in-network games for five MLB teams: the Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Local fans who want to watch those teams would likely have to go through ESPN's direct-to-consumer service. In addition to owning a subscription to that service — which costs $29.99 per month — the network could charge in-network consumers an additional fee to watch their favorite team's games. The reported agreement comes after a months-long feud between MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and ESPN. In February, ESPN decided to opt out of its partnership with the league following the 2025 MLB season. Manfred ripped the network a month later, saying he felt the league was "being treated disrespectfully" by ESPN. It appears those issues are now water under the bridge if Thursday's reported agreement comes to pass. Should the agreement go through, it would reportedly last for three years, per Marchand. MLB reportedly wants all of its broadcast rights to expire in 2029, allowing it to make a massive payday by auctioning off those rights to the highest bidder or bidders.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alcaraz, Djokovic on US Open collision course
Carlos Alcaraz was put on a US Open collision course with Novak Djokovic on Thursday as the draw for the men's and women's singles tournaments were revealed. Spanish star Alcaraz faces a potentially awkward route to the final where a possible showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner could be waiting at Flushing Meadows. Alcaraz, who could supplant Sinner as world number one depending on results in New York over the next fortnight, will have to hit the ground running starting from Sunday. The Spaniard faces big-serving American hope Reilly Opelka in the first round. If the tournament follows seedings, the 2022 US Open champion will meet former world number one Djokovic in the semi-finals. Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, will begin his campaign against Learner Tien in the opening round. Seventh seed Djokovic leads Alcaraz 5-3 in previous meetings, and defeated the Spaniard over four sets in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year. The 38-year-old Serbian icon's form remains a mystery though heading into the final Grand Slam of the season. Djokovic has not played since his run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month. Top seed and defending champion Sinner meanwhile will begin his campaign against Czech Vit Kopriva in the opening round. The 24-year-old Italian, who retired during the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz earlier this week, could meet Britain's Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. In the women's singles draw, world number one and defending Aryna Sabalenka will open her campaign against Switzerland's Rebeka Masarova, the world number 109. Second seed Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion and 2022 US Open winner, is in the other side of the draw and begins her bid for a seventh Grand Slam singles title against Colombia's Emiliana Arango. Swiatek's path to the final could see her meet 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Gauff faces Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round. Elsewhere, Venus Williams faces a daunting task if she is to prolong what could be her farewell US Open appearance beyond the first round. The 45-year-old US tennis icon was granted a wild card into the first round of the tournament, some 28 years after she reached her first US Open final as a 17-year-old in 1997. Williams faces Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the first round. rcw/dmc
New York Post
29 minutes ago
- New York Post
Rory McIlroy makes ‘reluctant' confession after thrilling Masters win
Before adding a green jacket to his wardrobe in April, Rory McIlroy was under the impression he'd sport the coveted piece at every opportunity if he ever won the Masters. Now four months removed from his triumphant playoff victory at Augusta National, the Northern Irishman revealed Tuesday ahead of the Tour Championship that he's 'reluctant to wear' the iconic jacket. 'It's not as if I wear it a lot. I have it hanging in my wardrobe in a place where I can see it every day. I always thought if I had one — if I did win the Masters one day — I'd never have the thing off, and it hasn't been that way. I haven't worn it as much as I thought I would,' McIlroy said, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement 5 Rory McIlroy won his first Masters in April 2025. Getty Images 5 He celebrated the victory with wife Erica Stoll and their daughter, 36, had not won a major in 11 years before the April victory at Augusta National, where he edged out Englishman Justin Rose in a one-hole playoff. Advertisement Moments after collapsing onto the course in jubilation, 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler presented McIlroy with the jacket he had been chasing to complete the sport's Grand Slam. 'There were points in my career where I didn't know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders,'' McIlroy said after the final round. 'I certainly didn't make it easy. I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the golf course.' 5 Rory McIlroy had not won a major in 11 years until the April 2025 victory at Augusta National. REUTERS 5 Rory McIlroy collapsed to the ground after his Masters victory. Getty Images Advertisement McIlroy sent the tournament into a playoff following a missed putt on the par-4 18th before redeeming himself with a birdie in extra time. He finished the weekend at 11-under par. 'A lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18 green,'' McIlroy said. 'A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it. It's nearly 11 years — not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam, trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.' Advertisement With the victory, McIlroy joined the elite group of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen who have won all four majors, which include The British Open, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Although the 2026 Masters is still some time away, McIlroy is looking forward to defending his title with the green jacket in tow. 'It'll be lovely to next time go there and go up to the champions locker room and put on my green jacket and feel like I belong,' he said. 5 Rory McIlroy will compete at the Tour Championship this week in Atlanta. Getty Images But first, McIlroy will tee it up at the Tour Championship, which began Thursday at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta. The winner will receive $10 million.
