Iga Swiatek made a crisp and confident return to tournament tennis at the Korea Open, breezing past Sorana Cîrstea 6-3, 6-2 in the Round of 16. It marked her first match since the US Open, where she bowed out in the quarterfinals, so it was good to see her back in action.
She didn’t hang about. From the get-go, Swiatek jumped on Cîrstea’s serve, breaking early and often. By the time the first set was done, she’d already built a 5-1 lead, carried momentum, and closed it out 6-3.
In set two, Swiatek kept up the pressure. Her serve got more comfortable, her return game sharp, and she grabbed an early lead. Though Cîrstea had a few bright moments, she couldn’t turn the tide. Swiatek broke again when it mattered and wrapped up the match 6-2.
What added a nice touch: this match took place in Seoul, a city with personal meaning to Swiatek. Her father represented Poland in rowing during the Seoul Olympics back in 1988, and she spoke about being proud to play in a place that’s part of her family’s history.
With the win, Swiatek moves into the quarterfinals where she’ll face either Emma Raducanu or Barbora Krejčíková. It’s a strong statement: she looked sharp, composed, and ready to push for more in the Asian swing.
