Australian Open: Swiatek, Raducanu set up third round showdown in Melbourne
Swiatek has won all her three previous matches against Raducanu in straight sets
Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open
Image Credit: Zuma / Psnewz/ Tennis Majors
There’s a mouth-watering to look forward to at the Australian Open on Saturday as five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu won on Thursday to set up a third-round showdown.
Raducanu found herself down 3-1 in the first set and 3-0 in the second but fought back brilliantly to defeat good friend Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5 in a one-hour, 50-minute battle on Kia Arena.
After reaching the second round in her three previous appearances, the Brit is through to the round of 32 at Melbourne Park for the first time in her career.
It also marks only the second time since her historic US Open title run that the 22-year-old is into the third round at a Grand Slam event.
Swiatek, ranked No 2, has a much easier time in her second round match. The Pole, who has passed the fourth round in Melbourne only once in her career, defeated Slovak Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour on Rod Laver Arena.
Swiatek and Raducanu have played three times in the past with the Pole winning all of those matches in straight sets. But the Pole knows that she will have to play top-level tennis to win on Saturday.
“For sure it’s going to be a tough one. Emma can play great tennis. We all know that. There’s no point to look at rankings, especially when you have these great players that already, you know, have been through great tournaments and won some tournaments. You know that they can play well. Maybe they’re not consistent to have the ranking, but still, you need to be on your toes and ready because you don’t know what they’ll show this week,” Swiatek said after her second round win.
I’m looking forward to going out there and testing my game against the best…
Raducanu, on the other hand, is going into the match knowing she has nothing to lose and that Swiatek is the overwhelming favourite.
“She is a top player. She’s been really consistent over the last quite a few years. It’s going to be a match for me where I feel like I don’t really have much expectation externally. I think you always have the pressure that you put on yourself to perform to your best ability, which is not really going to change, but that’s every match,” Raducanu said after her win on Thursday. “But I think I’m going to enjoy playing in a great atmosphere. I think the last two matches I’ve had the crowd has been amazing, the support here. I’ve really felt at home. It’s just been a really nice feeling to be a part of. I’m looking forward to going out there and testing my game against the best, because ultimately, you play tennis, and you live for these matches. It’s going to be a great buzz of adrenaline.”
