cnn
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World No. 1 Iga Świątek was absolutely dominant in her straight sets victory against Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, winning 6-0, 6-1 in just 49 minutes to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
In what was surely one of the most one-sided Grand Slam encounters in recent history, Juvan won just 15 points in the entire match against a ruthless Świątek, as the Pole continues to exert her dominance as favorite to lift the title at Flushing Meadows.
Świątek has dropped just nine games in her three matches so far in New York (seven of them in the comparatively difficult match against Daria Saville in the second round) and even her close friend Juvan is not immune to being served a bun, on 20 of the year for the relentless Świątek.
Świątek and Juvan have been close since playing together as teenagers at junior level, but there was no time for feelings and the Pole got down to business.
He had tied the first set in just 24 minutes and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second before Juvan won his only game of the match.
The crowd inside the Louis Armstrong Stadium gave the Slovenian warm applause after she scored to make it 3-1, but it wasn't long before Świątek finished off the match.
“I didn't like the fact that I was winning against my best friend, but I knew I had to be very focused and not let myself think about it because it was like playing against a sister. We have known each other for a long time,” said Świątek after his victory.
“I don't have many friends, but she is my best friend. “That was the hardest part.”
Świątek looks virtually unbeatable as he attempts to defend his US Open title, committing just five unforced errors in Friday's near-perfect performance. She will face either Jelena Ostapenko or American Bernarda Pera for a place in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the top seed is still getting used to how good she is.
“Honestly, I have to learn to find more joy in that,” he added.
“I spoke to Roger [Federer] about that last week. He says the best way to approach it is to truly accept it, be proud and happy with the results.
“I'm always looking ahead, trying to do the best job another day, so I'm glad to have people on my team who remind me of the good work I'm doing. It’s nice to appreciate the process and the progress.”
