Swiatek takes last 4 games, tops Niemeier at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek has swept the last four games to beat Jule Niemeier 6-4, 7-5 in the first round of the Australian Open. Swiatek is bidding for her fourth career Grand Slam title. One of those previous ones came at least year’s U.S. Open, where she needed to come back from a deficit of a set and a break before defeating Niemeier in three sets. Swiatek took control from the baseline with her forehand to improve to 15-1 in openers at Grand Slam tournaments. That is a .938 winning percentage that leads active women. Niemeier is a 22-year-old German who is ranked 69th and was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year.