(Melbourne) Isa Swiatek knows she still has a lot of work to do before she can hope to complete her career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open.
The world No. 2 was never in full control in her 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory against Chinese Yuan Yue (No. 130) in the first round of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season on Monday.
After winning the Wimbledon tournament last year, a major title added to his collection which already included four trophies from the French Open and another from the United States Open obtained in 2022, all he is missing is that of the Australian Open to complete his career Grand Slam. She reached the final four twice at Melbourne Park.
Yuan played like she had nothing to lose, stringing together winning shots en route to a 5-3 lead. At that point, Swiatek knew she had to change her game plan.
“I was a little rusty at the start,” admitted the Pole. I lacked consistency, but I know, generally speaking, that I have things to refine. I’m going to focus on that. »
Trailing 5-3 in the first set, she won her next game on serve at zero and forced Yuan to serve for the set. Swiatek followed up with a break to tie the score and, in the tiebreaker, she kept her composure and converted her second set point.
“I was a little nervous at first. I had to untie my legs. Running after balls. To be courageous in my decisions,” she said of her change in approach.
“It wasn’t perfect, but that’s why I’m happy,” added Swiatek, who has only lost once in the first round of a major tournament. It’s easy to win matches when everything is going well. That wasn’t the case today, but I still managed to win. »
Swiatek has been challenged in her preparation for the Australian Open, having lost two singles matches at the United Cup. She nevertheless contributed to Poland’s first title in this competition.
Earlier in the day, third-seeded Coco Gauff struggled on serve but still showed enough power to win 6-2, 6-3 over Kamilla Rakhimova in her first-round match.
PHOTO AARON FAVILA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coco Gauff
Gauff won two Grand Slam titles, but never made it past the semi-finals in Melbourne. She was eliminated in the quarter-finals last year.
The American struggles with double faults and has committed 431 in 2025 on the WTA Tour, by far the most of any player. No other player has committed more than 300. Gauff committed six in the first set in her victory over Rakhimova, and only one in the second.
“It was just the first inning,” Gauff said. I only had one double fault in the second. I think we both struggled in the backcourt. The sun is beating down, and I know it’s always like that when I play the first day here. »
The 21-year-old has been working on her serve for several months and practiced more during a break due to the heat during her match against Rakhimova.
Gauff will face left-hander Olga Danilovic in the second round. Danilovic defeated Venus Williams, 45, in the first round on Sunday.
“There aren’t a lot of left-handed players on the tour, but Olga is a great player, she’s beaten some really good players, so it’s going to be a tough match,” Gauff said.
Amanda Anisimova, fourth seed and finalist of the last two major tournaments, won 6-3, 6-2 against Simona Waltert. Jessica Pegula, seeded sixth, beat Anastasia Zakharova 6-2, 6-1 and Clara Tauson (14e) defeated Dalma Galfi 6-3, 6-3.
Emma Navarro (15e) lost in three rounds to the Polish Magda Linette.
A former champion eliminated
Sofia Kenin’s poor run at the Australian Open continued with her 6-3, 6-2 loss to fellow American Peyton Stearns.
Kenin, 27e seeded, had created a surprise by winning the tournament in 2020, but has struggled since then in Melbourne, losing in the first round for the fifth consecutive time.
Stearns had 15 aces, with just one double fault, and advanced to the second round in 1 hour 14 minutes. She will face Croatian Petra Marcinko in the next round.
