Serena Williams gave her a “positive kick”

Iga Swiatek said a chat with tennis great Serena Williams gave her a “positive kick” for her dominant third-round victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Poland’s Swiatek, who triumphed in New York in 2022, did not face a single break point as she defeated the Russian 6-4 6-2 in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The top seed was seen talking with 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams in the the players’ gym before the match.

Swiatek said that the encounter with Williams, a six-time winner at Flushing Meadows, “inspired her and it gave her, like, a positive kick.