Swiatek banks on renewed confidence as Medvedev battles to regain lost form

New York - As the US Open's second round begins on Wednesday, Daniil Medvedev aims to overcome his recent struggles, while Iga Swiatek seeks to capitalize on her newfound confidence. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continues her bid for a title defense, while Jessica Pegula looks to end the Belarusian's reign as world number one.

Swiatek, who won Wimbledon last year but failed to capitalize on the season with semifinal exits at the Australian Open and French Open, and a quarterfinal loss at the US Open, has recently benefited from coaching changes. Partnering with Francisco Roig in April, Swiatek focused on refining her serve and forehand. However, these improvements only became apparent in the US Open's first round, where she secured a smooth victory, fueling her confidence as she aims for a second US Open title.

Medvedev, a former champion, has often struggled with consistency on the biggest stages, lacking a Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2024 US Open. Last July, he lost in the third round at Wimbledon, and the trend continued with early exits from three tournaments last month. Despite this, Medvedev appeared calm and determined in his first-round victory over Hugo Gaston, stating, "Last couple of weeks weren't easy, but you know how it is, sometimes you lose matches, sometimes you win ... I'm really glad the way I played."

However, Medvedev's main challenge lies in maintaining consistency, a hurdle he will face against wildcard Sebastian Gorshkov, who made his Grand Slam main draw debut with a win over Raphael Collignon. Pegula, currently ranked third in the world, is not concerned about her lack of major victories but rather aims to reach the summit of the WTA rankings, dethroning Sabalenka.