In a stunning display of sheer dominance, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek needed just 59 minutes to dismantle Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-0 in their highly anticipated third round clash at the Australian Open. The 22-year-old Raducanu, who had expressed optimism about her improving fitness and form coming into the tournament, was simply no match for the ruthless precision of Swiatek.
Swiatek Wastes No Time
From the opening point, it was clear that Swiatek was in no mood to let this match become a prolonged battle. The reigning French Open champion came out firing on all cylinders, painting the lines with blistering groundstrokes and giving Raducanu no time to find her rhythm.
Swiatek raced out to a 4-0 lead in the blink of an eye, conceding just 3 points in those opening games. Raducanu managed to get on the board by holding serve to trail 1-4, drawing hearty applause from the crowd. But that would prove to be the lone bright spot for the young Brit.
Flawless Performance
Dialing in her shots with razor-sharp precision, Swiatek reeled off the next 8 games in a row to close out the match in under an hour. The 25-year-old struck 16 winners against just 4 unforced errors, never facing a break point. It was a flawless, unrelenting performance from start to finish.
“She played very well. I think, given the preparation we had, I have to be grateful to be in this position,” a gracious Raducanu said after the defeat.
Raducanu Remains Upbeat
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Raducanu focused on the positives in her post-match press conference. The 2024 US Open champion spoke about her improved health and the strides she’s made since missing time with multiple injuries in 2023.
“Three weeks ago I was doing pool rehab,” Raducanu noted. “To be on a court playing matches and competing is something I have to be grateful for.”
She acknowledged there is still much work to be done, identifying her serve as a key area for improvement after being broken 5 times by Swiatek. But overall, Raducanu remained encouraged by her progress.
Swiatek Marches On
With the decisive win, Swiatek moves on to the fourth round where she will face either Victoria Azarenka or Anett Kontaveit. The Polish star is seeking her maiden Australian Open title and looks every bit the favorite based on her early form.
While undoubtedly disappointed with the result, Raducanu will aim to build on the positives and continue her encouraging start to the 2025 season. If she can recapture the scintillating form that saw her become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the 2024 US Open, Raducanu has the talent to challenge the game’s elite once again.
