MELBOURNE, Australia — In a stunning display of skill, Iga Swiatek zipped through the first set in just 26 minutes, sealing a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory over Rebecca Sramkova in the second round of the Australian Open, wrapping up the match in an impressive hour.
The five-time Grand Slam champion is known for her swift progression through the early stages of major tournaments, boasting an astonishing record where 12% of her Grand Slam sets have ended in a dominant 6-0, as highlighted by the tournament broadcaster.
When world No. 49 Rebecca Sramkova managed to halt a seven-game losing streak by holding her serve on Thursday, she couldn’t help but lift her arm in triumph, earning applause from the Rod Laver Arena crowd—an ecstatic moment amongst her few chances to celebrate.
“It was fantastic to play so efficiently and wrap it up quickly,” Swiatek remarked, adding, “It’s great to get a feel for the court here in RLA.”
Next up for the second seed is none other than 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu, who battled back from an early deficit in the second set to fend off Amanda Anisimova, clinching a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Raducanu has faced her share of injuries since that groundbreaking 2021 major victory, where she made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Due to a muscle strain, she skipped warmup tournaments before this year’s Australian Open and required medical treatment during her match against Anisimova for her back.
Having advanced past the second round at Melbourne Park for the first time, Raducanu expressed confidence in her ability to recover before facing Swiatek. “This will be a great match for me, a chance to really test my skills,” she stated. “Swiatek has achieved so much, but I’m heading into this with nothing to lose. I’m ready to swing for it!”
Swiatek is eager to move beyond last year’s doping incident that resulted in a one-month ban, and she’s showing no signs of being distracted by it.
She maintained her dynamic pace in the second round, quickly acknowledging the crowd with swift claps of her racket post-victory. Swiatek faced no break points against Sramkova, converting five of the six opportunities she had and finishing points with breathtaking winners from both sides, alongside some immaculate volleys.
This year, she’s feeling a bit freer with the pressure eased since losing her No. 1 ranking to the two-time defending Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
“The pressure at the start of the year was definitely there, but I’ve learned that my ranking isn’t fully in my control. I’m just focusing on my game,” Swiatek shared.
Emma Navarro, a semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Open and seeded in the top eight for the first time at a major, faced early adversity with two service breaks in the third set but rallied to secure a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Wang Xiyu.
She celebrated her intense three-set win by bounding from the baseline to the net, making a big motion with her arm to emphasize her triumph.
“The match was incredibly challenging right through to the end,” Navarro admitted. “But I found my rhythm in those crucial last games.”
Next, she’ll face Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, who overcame asthma challenges to defeat Camila Osorio 7-5, 6-3.
No. 9 Daria Kasatkina advanced with ease, topping Wang Yafan 6-2, 6-0, and will go up against No. 24 Yulia Putintseva, who defeated Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-1 in the next round.
