Australian Open: Swiatek Advances to Round 3, Prepares for Raducanu Showdown

Synopsis

Iga Swiatek advanced to the third round of the Australian Open after defeating Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2. She will next face Emma Raducanu, maintaining her perfect record against the Brit. Swiatek's performance has significant implications for her pursuit of the WTA No. 1 ranking.

Key Takeaways

Swiatek won with a score of 6-0, 6-2 against Sramkova.
She has not lost a set in this tournament.
Next, she faces Emma Raducanu, holding a 3-0 record against her.
Swiatek's victory impacts her ranking chase against Aryna Sabalenka.
She has achieved 24 sets of 6-0 in Grand Slams since 2020.

Melbourne, Jan 16 (NationPress) Iga Swiatek smoothly progressed into the third round at the Australian Open after overcoming Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova with a score of 6-0, 6-2 on Thursday.

In relatively mild and breezy conditions, Swiatek registered 16 winners against 14 unforced errors and faced no break points. She showcased her dominance from the ground, clinching 20 of the 26 rallies that extended to five shots or more.

"I felt really solid today. It was a really efficient game. I’m happy that I kept my focus because sometimes you think in a way it seems a little bit easy and it might cause problems later on because your focus might be gone, but I’m happy that I kept it and I was solid," Swiatek stated.

Swiatek has now secured victories in her last 40 matches during the first two rounds of Grand Slam events. Her opening set against Sramkova marks her 24th 6-0 set at a Grand Slam since the beginning of 2020. Aryna Sabalenka holds the next best record during this span with nine, according to WTA statistics.

In the third round, Swiatek will face the 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Raducanu triumphed in a challenging second-round match against Amanda Anisimova, coming back from a break down in both sets to secure a 6-3, 7-5 victory, marking her inaugural appearance in the third round at Melbourne Park.

Swiatek remains undefeated against No. 61 Raducanu, having won all three of their previous encounters without dropping a set. Their last meeting took place on clay in Stuttgart last year, where Swiatek emerged victorious with a score of 7-6(2), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.

Swiatek has not lost a set on her way to the third round, and her advancement significantly impacts her pursuit of reclaiming the WTA Rankings No. 1 spot from Aryna Sabalenka following the tournament in Melbourne.

Three players have the opportunity to depart Melbourne Park with the top ranking: Aryna Sabalenka, Swiatek, and No. 3 Coco Gauff. By reaching the third round, Swiatek effectively eliminated Gauff's chances at the No. 1 position and altered the scenario for Sabalenka, who now must reach the semifinals to retain her top spot.