Swiatek wins easily, but knows who’s No. 1; Nadal bloodied
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Iga Swiatek is winning easily — and quietly. At this U.S. Open, even the world’s No. 1 player is a distant No. 2 as long as Serena Williams is still around. Swiatek says: “Yeah, that’s kind of her time right now.” The two-time French Open champion easily beat 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday in the second round for her WTA Tour-leading 50th victory this season. A day after Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, and No. 3 Maria Sakkari lost, Swiatek perhaps looms as an even bigger threat to win a seventh title this year. At night, Rafael Nadal bloodied himself by cutting his nose with his racket in a four-set victory over Fabio Fognini.
