Swiatek rallies past McNally in Wimbledon Round 2
The No. 8 seed and five-time major champion rallied from a set down to secure the hard-fought win in 2 hours and 25 minutes. With the victory, Swiatek advanced to the third round at a Grand Slam for the 22nd consecutive time, joining the elite company of Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo as the only players this century to achieve the feat.
Swiatek, who has never exited a Slam before the third round since the 2019 US Open, improved her record in Grand Slam second-round matches to 23 wins and just two losses. Despite her dominance at the majors, Wimbledon remains the only Slam where she is yet to go beyond the quarterfinals, having made her best run to that stage in 2023.
Roday's encounter rekindled a rivalry dating back to the juniors, where Swiatek and McNally once teamed up to win the 2018 Junior French Open doubles title. McNally had also defeated Swiatek in the singles semifinals of that tournament.
This match marked only their second meeting on the professional tour, with Swiatek once again prevailing — though not without a scare. McNally showcased grit and aggressive net play to take the first set, but Swiatek adjusted her rhythm and began to dominate the longer rallies, racing through the final two sets.
In the third round, Swiatek will face another American, Danielle Collins. Although Swiatek holds a 7-2 head-to-head advantage over the former Top 10 player, Collins won their most recent meeting in Rome earlier this year and also famously beat Swiatek in the 2022 Australian Open semifinals.
As Swiatek eyes a deeper run on the Wimbledon lawns, all eyes will be on whether the former World No. 1 can surpass her quarterfinal finish from last year and finally mount a serious title challenge on grass. UNI BDN SSP
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