NEW YORK: World no to reach.
The French Open winner fired a non-refundable serve to win the first set but fell 4-1 in the second as Davis upped her level.
Despite the deficit, the spirited Pole stubbornly refused to drop her first set of the tournament, winning a tense 16-shot rally to score break points at 4-4, which she converted when Davis netted a backhand.
The top seed admitted she wasn’t at her best during the two-hour night game at Louis Armstrong Stadium, despite playing the final five games of the game.
“I couldn’t find my rhythm today,” Swiatek said in an interview on the pitch.
“She played very differently than any other player. She played very smartly.
“I try to enjoy every game, even if I’m not perfect. I just try to try. I try to find solutions in every situation.”
Next up for Swiatek on Monday in the round of 16 is a duel with Germany’s Jule Niemeier or China’s Qinwen Zheng.