Australian Open 2025: Iga Swiatek Sets 3rd Round Date With Emma Raducanu

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World number two Iga Swiatek cruised into the third round of the Australian Open 2025 on Thursday to set up a high-profile clash with 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Swiatek beat  Rebecca Sramkova of  Slovakia 6-0, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena for the title race. 

On Melbourne Park’s centre court, Swiatek broke the Slovakian’s opening service game and there was no looking back.

Sramkova, who was playing in a Grand Slam second round for the first time, had no answer to the precision and power of the world number two.

Swiatek won 64% of points off the Slovakian’s first serve in an opening set that lasted 27 minutes, dropping just 10 points. She took just an hour to post the victory. 

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“I felt really solid today, and it was a really efficient game,” said Iga Swiatek. “I’m happy that I kept my focus.”

On the other hand, Britain’s Raducanu overpowered nearby Kia Arena against her good friend Amanda Anisimova. Both players took multiple breaks before she came through 6-3, 7-5.

Raducanu had reached the second round in Melbourne on three previous occasions but never advanced further.

Swiatek “is a top player, she’s been really consistent over the last quite a few years”, Emma Raducanu said. “So it’s going to be a match for me where I feel like I don’t really have much expectation externally.

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“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.

“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.”

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