Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1 and defending champion at the BNP Paribas Open, started her campaign in style with an emphatic win over Claire Liu. The Polish player took just 65 minutes to demolish her opponent, winning the match 6-0, 6-1.
Swiatek was in complete control from the outset, losing just seven points in the first set, and her tactical nous and tennis skills were evident throughout the match. The young player’s confidence is sky-high after winning several matches recently, and she believes she knows exactly what to do on the court.
On the men’s side, defending champion Taylor Fritz had to dig deep to overcome a spirited challenge from former NCAA singles champion Ben Shelton. After losing the first set 4-6, Fritz rallied to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-3.
Shelton’s biggest serve clocked in at an impressive 147 mph, but Fritz showed his resilience and determination to come out on top. The win will give Fritz a much-needed boost of confidence as he looks to defend his title against a field of strong competitors.
With both the men’s and women’s defending champions off to winning starts, the stage is set for an exciting tournament at the BNP Paribas Open.
