MELBOURNE, Australia — The only women’s match in the third round at the Australian Open featuring Grand Slam singles champions saw Iga Swiatek deliver a dominant performance against Emma Raducanu on Saturday.


Swiatek decisively took the match, winning the last 11 games to crush Raducanu with a score of 6-1, 6-0, thus securing her place in the fourth round. The second-ranked Swiatek, who faced a one-month suspension in a doping case at the end of last year, has a remarkable record that includes four French Open titles and a U.S. Open victory in 2022. At the Australian Open, her best achievement has been a semifinal finish in 2022, where she fell to the eventual runner-up, Danielle Collins.


“I hit a few shots and then thought, ‘This is what I practice for,’” Swiatek reflected on her performance, noting her strong start from the very beginning. She won 59 points compared to Raducanu’s 29, showcasing her confidence as she pushed through the match.


In addition to Swiatek, eighth-seeded Emma Navarro also advanced to the fourth round after claiming victory over Ons Jabeur with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Navarro has been notably busy, having participated in 30 three-set matches at the WTA level since the beginning of 2024, leading all players in that category during this timeframe.


Another American making headlines is 20-year-old Alex Michelsen, who previously defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. In the third round on Saturday, Michelsen triumphed over Karen Khachanov with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2.


“I played unbelievably, I don’t really know what’s happening,” Michelsen expressed his shock at his performance in a post-match interview. “I am super happy… not a lot of words right now.”


The competition continues to heat up as players advance in pursuit of one of tennis’s most storied titles.