Ruud didn’t always feel quite so calm about it. He was dining in New York while Swiatek played her title match in Ohio and keeping a close eye on the score. He was secretly chatting with Swiatek’s team throughout the match — “she doesn’t know this,” Ruud said with a laugh — and wondering about their doubles match the next morning.

Third-ranked Iga Swiatek captured the Cincinnati Open title for the first time by defeating No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 on Monday night.

World number three Iga Swiatek said triumph at the Cincinnati Open gives her a "boost of confidence" before the US Open begins on Sunday.