Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance on Saturday at the Australian Open, annihilating Emma Raducanu with a 6-1, 6-0 scoreline to advance to the last 16. The world number one showed her strength and determination, maintaining an unyielding level of play as she swept through Raducanu in just 59 minutes. The 23-year-old Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is aiming for her first Australian Open title, though she has never made it past the semi-finals in Melbourne.
Swiatek’s victory was part of a day filled with thrilling moments in Melbourne, where the 38-year-old French tennis legend Gael Monfils stunned fourth-seed Taylor Fritz in a remarkable comeback. Monfils, ranked 41st, came back from a set down to claim a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 victory, proving he’s still a formidable force on the court. The Frenchman, who recently made history as the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history at the Auckland Classic, continues to defy his age with his remarkable performances.
American qualifier Learner Tien, just 19, also made headlines, winning in straight sets against Corentin Moutet to reach the second week of the tournament. Tien’s 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3 victory made him the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005, furthering his fairytale run in Melbourne.
On the women’s side, Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, joined Swiatek in the next round after a hard-fought three-set win over Ons Jabeur. Navarro overcame Jabeur 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and credited her father, billionaire businessman Ben Navarro, for teaching her the toughness she displayed on court. Despite the challenge, Navarro’s mental strength saw her through, with her father courtside offering support.
Elena Rybakina, the sixth seed, also made it through to the next round despite battling a back injury. Rybakina won 6-3, 6-4 against Dayana Yastremska, but was forced to take a medical timeout for a back spasm during the match. After the victory, Rybakina expressed uncertainty about her condition, hoping that her physio could work some magic ahead of her next match.
The day also saw some feisty rivalry action as American Danielle Collins, who is no stranger to controversy, faced Madison Keys. Collins, who stirred up the crowd by thanking hecklers for “paying my bills,” will look to continue her journey toward the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Monfils’ win was a highlight of the men’s side, and he offered a playful joke about warming up the court for his wife, Elina Svitolina, who was set to play later. Svitolina, married to Monfils, was preparing for her own big match against world number four Jasmine Paolini.
In other action, Italian defending champion Jannik Sinner will look to defend his title as he faces Marcos Giron in the evening session, while home hope Alex de Minaur made his way to the last 16 with a solid 4-set win over Francisco Cerundolo.
The Australian Open continues to produce unexpected thrills, with players like Swiatek, Monfils, and Tien all demonstrating that age and ranking are no barriers to making a splash in one of tennis’s most prestigious tournaments.
