Top-ranked Swiatek into Australian Open's 2nd round, beats former champion Kenin

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek survived an early test of her Australian Open title hopes when she beat former champion Sofia Kenin 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the first round on Tuesday.

Kenin, the winner in 2020, served for the first set at 5-4 but could not close it out and Swiatek took it in the tiebreaker. The No. 1 seed then broke Kenin in the fifth game of the second set and held on to clinch victory.

"Really happy," said Swiatek, who hit 30 winners. "It wasn't easy to find my rhythm. I felt a little bit off and Sofia did everything to keep it that way, huge respect to her. I managed to get my level up in the second set."

The Polish player is trying to win her fifth Grand Slam title but her first in Melbourne.

Slice and dice