Swiatek Storms Past qualifier to reach Third Round



Top seed Iga Swiatek breezed into the third round of the US Open with an emphatic win over Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara.

The five-time major winner dropped just one game against Shibahara, who managed to hold serve early in the second set to avoid a dreaded 'double bagel'.

Swiatek, 23, didn't face a single break point as she wrapped up the 6-0 6-1 victory in 65 minutes.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from her second-round match against France's Jessika Ponchet because of "injuries", handing the world number 143 a walkover.

"I did not want to finish the last Grand Slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong," Rybakina, the fourth seed, said in a statement.

Earlier, Italy's fifth seed Jasmine Paolini progressed after Karolina Pliskova retired just three points into their second-round encounter.

The 2016 runner-up was 30-15 down in the first game when she pulled up injured.

Czech Pliskova requested medical treatment for her foot, but was unable to continue and limped off Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Paolini, a finalist at this year's French Open and Wimbledon, will face Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva next.

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