Iga Swiatek overcame a short turnaround after winning in Toronto on Thursday to beat Colombian Emiliana Arango, 6-3, 6-0, on center court at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday.
It was the seventh consecutive win for Swiatek, who won the title in Cincinnati last year.
“It’s not like I was super tired after Toronto,” Swiatek said on Sunday two days after arriving.
“I knew I just needed a little bit of rest. Usually one day before a tournament, I’m already in my match mode. But this time, I wanted to spend every hour possible just chilling.”
Also on Sunday, Aryna Sabalenka, who has spent 95 consecutive weeks at No. 1 dating to Oct. 21, 2024, got past Australian Talia Gibson, 6-2, 7-6 (2). Sabalenka improved to 15-3 in Cincinnati since 2022.
Coming off her loss to Swiatek in the finals in Toronto, No. 2-ranked Elena Rybakina beat American Taylor Townsend, 6-3, 6-4.
Rybakina, who reached the semifinals last year in Cincinnati, is looking for her 14th hard-court title in Cincinnati after winning the Australian Open in January.
Tenth-ranked Taylor Fritz beat fellow American Alex Michelsen, 6-3, 6-4, in the men’s tournament.
