Iga Swiatek routs Slovenian qualifier to reach 4th round in U.S. Open title defence

Iga Swiatek didn't hold back against close friend Kaja Javan, defeating the Slovenian qualifier 6-0, 6-1, in just 49 minutes Friday to move into the U.S. Open's fourth round.

The top-seeded defending champion from Poland has dropped only nine games so far in the tournament. She's handed her opponents 19 6-0 sets on the WTA tour this year.

"I didn't like the fact I was kind of winning against my best friend," Swiatek told the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium afterward. "Playing her is like playing a sister. ... I don't have many friends but she's my best friend."

In the first match of the day in Arthur Ashe Stadium, 14th-seeded American Tommy Paul moved into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time, defeating No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. Paul served up the last of his 15 aces to close out the match

"I felt like I served a lot better, came to the net and played full-court tennis," said Paul, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open this year.

Earlier, No. 10 Karolina Muchova moved into the women's fourth round with a 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory over Taylor Townsend.

Muchova came into the U.S. Open with a career-high ranking and momentum after reaching the final of this month's tuneup event in Cincinnati, losing to American Coco Gauff in straight sets.

She next faces Xinyu Wang of China, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 winner over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.

Later matches include No. 6 Gauff against 32nd-seeded Elise Mertens, and a matchup of two players who recently returned to tennis, Caroline Wozniacki and Jennifer Brady.

No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic will be in action at night in Arthur Ashe Stadium against fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, the No. 32 seed. Djokovic is chasing his