World No. 1 Iga Swiatek comes from behind to defeat Jule Niemeier, advancing to US Open quarterfinals with a 2-6, 7-6(3) win.
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — Jule Niemeier’s return to the Top 100 and Grand Slam quarterfinals at the U.S. Open marked the third time in his career he has advanced out of the first two rounds, and he looked particularly motivated at times in this U.S. Open quarterfinal against No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek came back from two sets down to beat Niemeier, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“It’s always nice to come out of the quarterfinals, and with the wins that I had this week, I wanted it more,” said Swiatek of his match at the top of the women’s game. “I’ve always wanted to win at the US Open, and I’ve always wanted to get into the quarterfinals. … It’s just another step up for me to go to the next level.”
This US Open quarterfinal was perhaps as important to the future of women’s tennis as any other Grand Slam event, with the winner moving on to the semifinals at the Australian Open beginning in January.
Swiatek was the only player to win two straight matches at the U.S. Open in the last seven years until Iga advanced here in September 2017 and then again in the last month of 2018 at the French Open.
“I was really trying not to think about how good it is, but I was also really really happy, because I really think I have the ability to really advance, to do well and have the possibility to win in the quarters and semifinals,” said Swiatek, who won $1