Swiatek says Australian Open draw “toughest one I ever had” after beating Kenin, Collins in opening rounds
Having faced a former finalist and former champion in her opening two rounds at the Australian Open, Swiatek believes this is her toughest ever draw
Virginie Bouyer / Panoramic
Day five of the Australian Open saw world No 1 Iga Swiatek survive by the skin of her teeth, coming back from 4-1 down in the third set against America’s Danielle Collins to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Collins is a former Australian Open finalist, having made a run to the Melbourne final in 2022. Prior to facing the former world No 7, Swiatek had to overcome another player with a taste of success down under–Sofia Kenin.
Kenin won the Australian Open in 2020, but at No 41 in the world now was unseeded and drew Swiatek in the first round.
Having seen off a former finalist and champion in her opening two matches, Swiatek has declared that she’s “proud to survive” this.
Swiatek says 2024 draw tougher than when she was unseeded
“It happens,” said Swiatek when asked what she thinks of the abnormally difficult draw she’s had to face across the first two round of the Australian Open.
“I think it was even like the toughest one I ever had, maybe even more than when I was unseeded couple of years back. I’m proud to survive this and I’m already thinking about the next goals.”
Despite having seen off two robust challenges across the first week of the tournament, the Pole doesn’t believe her matches will get any easier moving forward.
“I don’t know how Linda [Noskova] is going to play, how the match is going to look,” explained the 22-year-old. “I’m ready for every match kind of to be intense.
“Obviously sometimes it’s more intense with players that are having different styles. But she’s also playing really good and really fast. I’ll be ready.”
Swiatek can see some silver lining in the challenging start to her Australian Open campaign, saying, “I don’t mind actually that it was intense because I remember also when I started the tournament with some easy matches, then I felt I was a little bit rusty when the tough moments came.”
“Honestly, every Grand Slam, the path can look really differently. But at the end I came to the conclusion that it doesn’t really matter. You just have to be ready.
“At the US Open in 2022, I also had trouble. I think it was third round against Yulia. I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
Next up for Swiatek is Czech player Linda Noskova, ranked No 50 in the world. The 19-year-old defeated No 31 seed Maria Bouzkova in her opening match 6-1, 7-5, before seeing off wildcard McCartney Kessler 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 most recently.
