Iga Swiatek, the world's top player, advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday after facing a challenging test from Jule Niemeier
The 2022 French and US Open champion needed
an hour and 59 minutes to defeat the tenacious German on Rod Laver Arena.
She was far from her fluid best, which helped her to a 37-match winning streak last season
Swiatek, who is attempting to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors in Melbourne
was broken at the beginning of the second set by the strong German world number 69
Niemeier had just had her most successful season to date in 2022, during which she advanced
to the Wimbledon quarterfinals and defeated Swiatek by a set and a break in the US Open's round of 16