Iga Swiatek off to a great start at Australian Open 2025
The courts at Melbourne Park have historically presented challenges for many players, but when it comes to Iga Swiatek, first-round matches seem like her zone of dominance. On the second day of the Australian Open 2025, the world No. 2 once again showcased her talent, beating Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4 in just one hour and 21 minutes.
The win took Swiatek’s Australian Open first-round record to 7-0 and her overall Grand Slam first-round record to 23-1. The talented Siniakova, ranked 50th in singles and currently the world No. 1 doubles player, put up an admirable fight. However, Swiatek, who has spent a total of 125 weeks as the singles world No. 1, was too strong on the day.
Immaculate performance
Swiatek’s win was marked by her precision and control. She finished the match with more winners than unforced errors, won nearly 80% of her first serve points, and didn’t commit a single double fault. “It’s a great way to start a Slam,” Swiatek said after the match, emphasizing her confidence in her preparation and gameplay.
The win sets up a second-round clash with Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova. Swiatek, known for her consistency, was told by a reporter that she is the only woman this decade to have reached the second round of every Slam she has played. Smiling, she replied, “I think I’ve only lost in the first round once. It was at Wimbledon in 2019. I wish I didn’t play so my stats would be perfect.”
Building momentum
Swiatek has always excelled at Roland Garros, where she is a four-time champion with a 35-2 record. However, the Australian Open has proven to be difficult for her, with her best result being reaching the semifinals in 2022. This year, however, she has come out with renewed vigour under the guidance of new coach Wim Fissette and the addition of a dedicated hitting partner to her team. Her recent performances on the Australian hard courts have been promising. Swiatek has won five of her six matches this season, with her only loss coming against Coco Gauff in the United Cup final. With Gauff and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in opposite halves of the draw, Swiatek’s path to the final stages of the tournament looks promising. Unstoppable yet underrated? While Sabalenka and Gauff are often considered favourites for the title, Swiatek’s name has flown somewhat under the radar. This subtle shift in the spotlight was also reflected in the tournament’s scheduling, with Swiatek’s opener assigned to John Cain Arena instead of the main stage at Rod Laver Arena. However, Swiatek welcomed the change. “Honestly, I love playing in every stadium here. On John Cain, I played some great matches,” she said, recalling her previous matches on the court, including a memorable fourth-round encounter with Anett Kontaveit in 2022.
AO 2025 off to competitive start
Iga gets it done in straight sets, defeating Siniakova 6-3 6-4 👏👏 @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • @iga_swiatek • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mzN0hEqfUQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
The second day of AO 2025 saw a packed schedule with superstars like Naomi Osaka, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Australian veteran Sam Stosur highlighted the challenge for schedulers, saying, “There are a lot of decisions ahead for schedulers – what court do we put all these people on and when do we find the venue?”
For Swiatek, the memories of John Cain Arena are a source of motivation as she looks to continue her strong form. With her opening round performance, the world No. 2 looks well placed to challenge for her first Australian Open title.
