January 16, 2025: Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run at the Australian Open 2025, securing a spot in the third round with an impressive 6-0, 6-2 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. This victory extends her streak to 40 straight wins in the first two rounds of Grand Slam events. Swiatek's opening set was a clean sweep, marking her 24th 6-0 set at a Grand Slam since 2020, far ahead of any other player, including Aryna Sabalenka, who has nine such sets.
Swiatek, who had already secured a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over Katerina Siniakova in the first round, required just one hour to dispatch Sramkova. She hit 16 winners and never faced a break point, dominating the match by winning 20 out of 26 rallies that lasted more than five shots.
Swiatek will now face Emma Raducanu in a highly anticipated third-round clash. Raducanu reached this stage with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Amanda Anisimova, fighting back from a breakdown in both sets. Swiatek has won all three of their previous encounters, including their last match in Stuttgart last year, which Swiatek won 7-6(2), 6-3.
Speaking about her upcoming match, Swiatek acknowledged the challenges Raducanu has faced with injuries but emphasized that, on court, it will come down to who performs better. Swiatek noted, "When we are going to be out there on the court, whoever is going to play better will win, and that's it."
Looking ahead, Swiatek is focused on reclaiming her World No.1 ranking from Sabalenka, with Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Coco Gauff all vying for the top spot. Despite the pressure of starting the year at No.1, Swiatek expressed that her primary focus is on playing well. "If I play well, I know I will be back at No.1. If I do not and Aryna plays better, she will be number one," Swiatek said.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff extended her win streak to nine matches, reaching the third round with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jodie Burrage. Gauff came from behind in the second set, overcoming a 3-5 deficit to secure the win.
In another exciting match, Elena Rybankina made it to the third round with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 win over 17-year-old Iva Jovic. Rybankina will next face Dayana Yastremska in their first-ever professional meeting.
The competition is heating up in Melbourne, and Swiatek, Raducanu, Gauff, and Rybankina are all looking to continue their strong form as they aim for a deep run in the tournament.
