MELBOURNE, Australia — In a commanding performance, Iga Swiatek easily dispatched Emma Raducanu with a score of 6-1, 6-0 during the only third-round Australian Open match featuring former Grand Slam winners. Swiatek expressed her dominant state by saying, “I felt like the ball is listening to me.” The Polish star explained this sensation by demonstrating the precision she felt while aiming her shots, indicating that on her best days, the margin for error is minimal.

Her success, she claimed, stems from enhanced precision and an understanding of how to execute her shots effectively. Swiatek, a former long-time No. 1 and now ranked second behind Aryna Sabalenka, showed an impressive ability to control the game, making her a formidable opponent at Melbourne Park, especially during the first week of the tournament.

Swiatek’s gameplay featured powerful spinning forehands, agile footwork, and exceptional returning skills. While Swiatek triumphed, the men’s draw saw No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz exit the tournament after being defeated by the 38-year-old Gael Monfils. Monfils’ victory, with a score of 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-4, makes him only the second male player aged 38 or older to reach the fourth round in Melbourne since the tournament transitioned to a 128-player format in 1988.

Another notable performance came from the young Alex Michelsen, ranked 42nd, who stunned No. 19 Karen Khachanov with a 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 win. This marks Michelsen’s first advancement to the fourth round at a major tournament, following his impressive upset against No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas earlier in the week. Michelsen’s next challenge will be against No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur, who overcame No. 31 Francisco Cerúndolo in his third-round match.

During her match with Raducanu, who gained fame after winning the U.S. Open as a teenager in 2021, Swiatek achieved what she referred to as a “perfect” performance. She outperformed Raducanu by a staggering 24-9 margin in winners and recorded only 12 unforced errors compared to Raducanu’s 22. The match captivated the audience, highlighted when one fan shouted “No mercy!” as Swiatek dominated the second set after the score was tied at 1-1. Raducanu admitted her struggle during the match, stating, “I think it was a little bit of her playing well, and me not playing so well.”

Swiatek, who faced a one-month suspension due to a doping incident last year, has claimed prestigious titles, including four French Open trophies and a U.S. Open title; however, she has never progressed beyond the semifinals in Australia, having been halted in that stage by Danielle Collins in 2022. Last year, she fell to Linda Noskova in the third round.

The Polish player dedicated her victory to her grandfather and has surrendered just 10 games in her three matches so far, with her new coach Wim Fissette observing from the sidelines. Looking ahead, she will face Eva Lys of Germany, who made it to the main draw after entering as a “lucky loser” following a last-minute withdrawal. Lys won her first-round match against Jaqueline Cristian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, making her the first player in that category to reach the fourth round in the history of the Australian Open at its current venue.

In addition to Swiatek, several other players advanced to the quarterfinals after their respective wins, including No. 6 Elena Rybakina, No. 8 Emma Navarro, and No. 9 Daria Kasatkina. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, defeated No. 32 Dayana Yastremska 6-3, 6-4, while Navarro eliminated three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Kasatkina secured her spot by overcoming No. 24 Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 6-1.

Navarro, who reached her first major semifinal at the US Open last September, has impressively won all her matches in Melbourne this year in three sets. Since the beginning of the last season, Navarro has participated in a remarkable 30 three-set matches at the tour level, the highest among female players. Joking about her endurance, Navarro mentioned, “I love three sets. I love tennis so much, I can’t resist,” demonstrating her passion for the sport.