30 August 2023 , 23:51
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Iga Swiatek has dashed Andy Murray's hopes of playing mixed doubles with her at the US Open after she claimed "singles was enough".
The Women's World No 1 is looking to defend the title she won at Flushing Meadows last year and continued her impressive start being seeing off Daria Saville in straight sets on Wednesday night. The Pole, who has dominated the women's game for the past 18 months, was recently given high praise by Murray.
The Scot, who is not known for his doubles prowess, unlike brother Jamie, suggested that he'd be open to playing mixed doubles with Swiatek in New York and the 22-year-old was quizzed on the chances, but was quick to shut them down.
She said: “I love that he said that. It’s a dream come true. I watched Andy when I was younger. He always had such a good game & is such a cool person as well. Really humble and down to earth. So I'm happy he said that, i wish i could play mixed doubles for me singles is enough, especially with such an intense and long season. So I'll just focus on singles but I think Andy will forgive me."
Swiatek later added with a smile that she would talk to Murray herself, rather than through the media. The Brit though has been complimentary about her in the past. “I love watching (Iga) Swiatek, she moves great, the shape she plays with on the ball. I always watch Emma (Raducanu) matches when I can, but I do love watching Swiatek," he told Eurosport earlier this year.
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The Pole has already won the French Open and, like she did 12 months ago, is looking to land two of the four slams in a calendar year, which would take her overall total to five. The 22-year-old will now face qualifier Kaja Juvan in the third round.
Andy Murray had opened the door to play with the Women's World No 1 at the US OpenMurray meanwhile is back at the venue where he won his first Grand Slam back in 2012 and will take on some old friends in the second round after seeing off Corentin Moutet. He will now face Grigor Dimitrov, who is aided by Murray's former coaches Dani Vallverdu and Jamie Delgado.
"I've played quite a lot of matches against ex-coaches. I think I've only lost once," said the 36-year-old, looking to add to his three Grand Slam titles. "I've said this a lot: it's not just with me, but with tennis in general, certain things look sort of easy from the outside, strategy-wise or tactically against lots of players, but once you get on the court, it's not always that easy to just go out and execute it. It's difficult.
"Shots that maybe look like they're easy to attack, when you're out there, it's not quite the same. I mean, it probably should be a big advantage for him to have two guys that have worked with me over the years. But we'll find out."