Iga Swiatek adapts to a tough opponent and maintains her historic win rate.

Iga Swiatek, the dominant force in women’s tennis, continues to dazzle the world with her impressive performances as she recovers from an unexpected exit at the Australian Open. The Polish player, who has already won six Grand Slam titles, is back at one of her favorite tournaments, the Qatar Open, where she has lifted the trophy three times. Her debut in this edition was marked by a convincing victory over young prospect Janice Tjen, a match that ended with a resounding 6-0, 6-3 in favor of the 24-year-old athlete.

Swiatek faced a tricky opponent, as Tjen, despite her lack of experience on the WTA circuit, had already made her mark by winning her first title in 2025. Tjen’s peculiar playing style, which favors cuts and slices rather than the typical power and speed of the circuit, required a quick adjustment from Swiatek. “Today I needed to adjust to a different rhythm,” Swiatek said in the post-match interview. “Her choices are reminiscent of Ash Barty, so it was a nice reminder. But I kind of knew what to expect. I just went for it and was ready.”

With this victory, Swiatek not only opened the “bakery” with a new “bagel,” but also reached the impressive mark of 36 sets won 6-0 in WTA 1000 tournaments, placing her fifth on the all-time list since this format was introduced in 1990. The young sensation is quickly closing in on the achievements of tennis legends.

Asked about the feeling of handing out so many 6-0 scores to her opponents, the world number 2 responded: “I think when I was younger, I felt that a little bit. But then, you know, you just want to win. It’s sports, so it doesn’t make sense to stop or play at 80%. I’m here to give my best. I also always felt that it wouldn’t be respectful to my opponent to give them something, because we’re here to play our best. I just try to focus on myself, and that’s it.”

The statistics speak for themselves: Swiatek has already secured 32 consecutive opening match victories in WTA 1000 tournaments, placing her among the best in the Open Era. “It’s always good to start a tournament solidly, and I’m ready for every match,” Swiatek commented on her impressive streak. “I don’t take anything for granted, so even the first or second rounds, I see them as super important matches and a challenge. Therefore, I’m ready from the start.”

The last time Swiatek lost in the first round of a WTA 1000 tournament was at the 2022 Cincinnati Open, where she fell to Ons Jabeur in her debut. Since then, she has won all 32 of her opening matches, claiming 10 titles and reaching at least the semifinals on 20 occasions. Only Martina Hingis, with over 40 consecutive victories, stands ahead of Swiatek in this record.

Now, Swiatek’s next challenge will be against Daria Kasatkina, a respected player on the circuit, who has a solid career and has already won eight titles. However, the recent history between the two favors the Pole, who leads their head-to-head 6-1, having not allowed more than three games in four of their last five encounters, including a crushing victory at the 2024 WTA Finals.

“Honestly, I try not to think about the head-to-head because every match is a different story,” Swiatek said about her upcoming opponent. “She might come into the match feeling like she has nothing to lose. There are various ways the match can go, and I wouldn’t say focusing on previous results brings much. I prefer to be ready for the challenge and not really think about the previous encounters.”

As Swiatek progresses in the Qatar Open, anticipation grows around her ability to continue breaking barriers and setting new records in the world of tennis.