Swiatek leads top seeds through in Melbourne sunshine

Second-seed Iga Swiatek waltzed into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with fellow Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina also winners on a bright and sunny day at Melbourne Park.

A day after intermittent rain dampened the spirits, five-times Grand Slam champion Swiatek shot out of the blocks on Rod Laver Arena to crush Rebecca Sramkova 6-0 6-2 and set up a clash with Raducanu.

“I felt pretty confident, and I started the match well so I just kept going,” said Swiatek. “It was good to play in such an efficient way and just finish it quick.”

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina overcame a second-set wobble to beat 17-year-old American wildcard Iva Jovic 6-0 6-3, the second teenager she has sent packing from the tournament.

Raducanu, who has struggled with a string of injuries since her 2021 U.S. Open triumph, required an off-court medical timeout for an apparent left hip issue at 0-3 in the second set against Amanda Anisimova, before seeing off the American 6-3 7-5.

“I’m very happy,” said Raducanu. “I thought I played really well in some big moments in that match.”
On the men’s side, fourth seed Taylor Fritz romped past qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2 6-1 6-0 and Ben Shelton took out Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4, making three Americans in the third round with more possibly to come.

Fritz has given up only eight games in his two matches so far and will next face 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who earned his spot in the third round with a 7-5 6-3 7-6(3) win over German Daniel Altmaier. While Andre Agassi was the last American man to win the Melbourne Park title back in 2003, Australia’s wait for a homegrown men’s champion goes back to 1976.

Alex de Minaur, the eighth seed, is their best hope of breaking that long drought this year and he kept those hopes alive by beating American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2 6-4 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner will kick off the evening session, while fellow Italians Jasmine Paolini and Matteo Berrettini feature on an action-packed fifth day at the year’s first major.

Lorenzo Musetti got the Italians off to a strong start by reaching the third round in Melbourne for the first time with a 7-6(3) 7-6(6) 6-2 victory over Denis Shapovalov.