World no. 1 Iga Swiatek put on a solid performance in her first-round match at the 2023 Australian Open, defeating Germany's Jule Niemeier to secure her spot in the second round.
Swiatek, who won her first Grand Slam title at the 2020 Roland Garros, and added two more last year, came into the match as the heavy favorite and did not disappoint. She won the match in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, stopping a late comeback attempt from her opponent in the second set.
Previously, the two met at the US Open, during Swiatek's victorious run, as the German was only one of two players that took a set away from her. However, that didn't happen in Australia, as the Pole stayed focused from start to finish.
Despite facing a couple of break points in the seventh game of the first set, the world no. 1 didn't fold under pressure and waited for her chances that appeared in the tenth game. She create two break points, which were also set points, and after converting the second one, Swiatek won the first set 6-4.
The second set proved to be a bit more challenging for the Pole, as she started it with a loss of her serve. However, once her opponent was serving for the set, Swiatek showed her qualities to win three consecutive games and win the match 6-4, 7-5 in two hours.
With this victory, Swiatek will now face off against Camila Osorio in the second round, who Panna Udvardy in the first round. But Swiatek is confident and ready to face the challenge, and many believe that she has what it takes to go all the way and win her first title in Melbourne Park.
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