Iga Świątek advances at US Open with renewed confidence

Iga Świątek has safely advanced to the second round of the US Open 2026, kicking off her campaign with a smooth victory. The Polish star is building on significant momentum from a title win in Canada and a renewed sense of confidence following a mid-season coaching change.

Świątek's US Open campaign gathers pace

Świątek, the No. 8 seed, began her US Open run on Tuesday, September 1, with a first-round match against China's Wang Xiyu. She arrived in New York with strong recent form, having won the National Bank Open in Canada a few weeks prior. That run included wins over Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina. She followed it with a semi-final appearance in Cincinnati, eventually losing to Jessica Pegula. Her first-round win at Flushing Meadows sets up a second-round clash against Nadia Podoroska on Wednesday, September 2.

A coaching partnership that finally clicked

After a period of inconsistent Grand Slam results, including a fourth-round exit at the French Open and a third-round loss at Wimbledon, Świątek partnered with coach Francisco Roig in April. The focus was on improving her serve and forehand. She said the results were not immediate, but the work has now become automatic. "I just feel like my work clicked," Świątek stated after her first-round win. "All these things that I needed to do with Francis ... it became more automatic. I'm happy that this work paid off and it's getting the results now." This renewed confidence is a key factor as the six-time Grand Slam champion aims for a second US Open title, her first since 2022.

Gauff defends Świątek and Sabalenka from 'stupid' criticism

Fellow top player Coco Gauff recently highlighted the intense scrutiny faced by players at the summit of the game. Following her own title win in Cincinnati, Gauff addressed the criticism that emerges when a player's form dips. She pointed to Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka as examples, noting that maintaining an elite level indefinitely is "literally impossible." Gauff revealed she brushes aside the "stupid" takes, a sentiment Świątek herself has echoed after dealing with what she called "unfair judgment and hate" earlier in the season.

Recent tournament momentum and history

Świątek's path to New York was marked by a strong North American hard-court swing. Her title in Canada was a major boost, and her semi-final run in Cincinnati was only halted by eventual champion Pegula. The US Open has historically been a successful venue for her. She won the title in 2022 and maintains a win rate at the event of around 80 percent, though she hasn't progressed past the quarter-finals since that championship run.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS: Świątek is into the US Open second round after a straight-sets win. She won the Canadian Open in August 2026. A coaching partnership with Francisco Roig, begun in April, is now yielding confident results. Her career US Open win rate is approximately 80%.