World No. 2 Iga Swiatek made a powerful statement in the second round of the Australian Open, breezing past Rebecca Sramkova with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory on the sunlit Rod Laver Arena. The Polish star, seeking her maiden Australian Open crown, emphasized that rankings are irrelevant when facing former Grand Slam champions like Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu, ranked 61st, booked her third-round ticket with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win over American Amanda Anisimova. The 2021 US Open champion showed signs of resurgence after a series of injuries in recent years. Swiatek acknowledged Raducanu’s potential, stating, “There’s no point in looking at rankings. Players who’ve won major tournaments are always dangerous.”
Scores & Key Stats
| Match | Scoreline |
|---|---|
| Iga Swiatek vs. Rebecca Sramkova | 6-0, 6-2 |
| Emma Raducanu vs. Amanda Anisimova | 6-3, 7-5 |
Swiatek, who lost her World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka after a brief doping ban late last year, reflected on the shift in her mindset. “I realized I can’t control everything about my ranking. Now, I focus on playing my best tennis,” she said.
With tough contenders like Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, and Emma Navarro looming in her half of the draw, Swiatek remains focused on one match at a time. “If I don’t perform well against Raducanu, I won’t get the chance to face the others,” she admitted.
In a lighter moment, Swiatek shared a personal story from her press conference, recalling her most embarrassing on-court moments, including an incident at Indian Wells involving toilet paper stuck to her skirt.
As the third round approaches, fans eagerly anticipate a high-stakes clash between two Grand Slam champions, with Swiatek determined to push closer to her first Australian Open title.
