In Melbourne, Australia, Iga Swiatek had a swift second-round triumph over Rebecca Sramkova at the Australian Open, defeating her 6-0, 6-2 in just one hour. Swiatek dominated the first set, wrapping it up in a mere 26 minutes. The five-time Grand Slam winner is known for her ability to advance rapidly through the initial phases of major tournaments and reportedly has secured nearly 12% of her sets in Grand Slams with a 6-0 score.
When Sramkova, ranked No. 49, managed to hold her serve and end a seven-game losing streak, she raised her arm in acknowledgment of the support from the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. Unfortunately for her, it was one of the rare moments to celebrate during the match.
“It felt great to play so efficiently and finish quickly,” Swiatek expressed, reflecting on her performance. “It was also nice to get a feel for the court at RLA.”
Next up for the second-seeded Swiatek is a match against Emma Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion. Raducanu overcame an early setback in the second set to secure a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Amanda Anisimova. Since her memorable victory in 2021, Raducanu has contended with numerous injuries, including a recent muscle strain that prevented her from participating in warmup events leading up to this year’s Australian Open.
During her match against Anisimova, Raducanu required treatment for her back but still managed to progress past the second round in Melbourne for the first time, ranking No. 61. She expressed confidence in recovering adequately before facing Swiatek. “It’s going to be a great match for me, offering another chance to evaluate my game against such a successful player,” she stated, “I have nothing to lose and I’m ready to take the opportunity.”
Swiatek appears unaffected by the doping incident from last year that resulted in a one-month suspension. She showcased remarkable speed and efficiency during her match, recognizing the crowd’s support with quick gestures of appreciation. Swiatek didn’t encounter any break points against Sramkova and successfully converted five out of six opportunities she faced. Her precise shots and solid volleys revealed her readiness as she moves forward in the tournament.
This year, the pressure seems somewhat alleviated for Swiatek as she begins the season having lost her No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion in Australia. “Starting the year as No. 1 was an incredible pressure, but I realized last year that my ranking isn’t solely in my control,” she noted. “Now, my focus is squarely on my performance on the court.”
In another match, Emma Navarro, a U.S. Open semifinalist from the previous year competing as a seeded player for the first time at a Grand Slam, faced early adversity after dropping two service games in the third set. However, she regrouped, winning four consecutive games to defeat Wang Xiyu 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Navarro celebrated her victory with a dramatic swing of her arm, illustrating her relief and enthusiasm. “It was an incredibly difficult match, especially towards the end, but I managed to find the rhythm I needed in those final games,” she said.
Navarro’s next challenge is against Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, who fought through asthma issues to fend off Camila Osorio with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Elena Rybakina, a past Wimbledon champion and previous Australian Open runner-up, achieved her 50th win in Grand Slam singles competition with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over American qualifier Iva Jovic. Additionally, No. 9 seeded Daria Kasatkina triumphed with a score of 6-2, 6-0 against Wang Yafan, setting up a third-round match against No. 24 Yulia Putintseva, who defeated Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-1.
