Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with an impressive victory over Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-3. Taking place on the famed Rod Laver Arena, Swiatek’s performance demonstrated her dominance, finishing the match in just 73 minutes while showcasing her powerful game.
After the match, the former World No. 1 reflected on her performance, stating, “From the beginning, I felt quite confident. I was just playing my game, and that’s it.” Swiatek’s commanding display eliminated Inglis, who had been the tournament’s surprise package, reaching the fourth round despite being ranked 164 places below her opponent.
Inglis, who had the home crowd behind her, felt immense pride in her journey. “I think it’s going to take a little bit of time to look back on this Australian Open, and be pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished,” she remarked, acknowledging her incredible run as a qualifier. She had climbed through the ranks to make the last 16, making history as the only female qualifier to achieve such a feat in this Australian Open.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, reminiscent of the excitement surrounding Ash Barty’s win in 2022. However, Ingis faced a monumental challenge against Swiatek, who is vying for a career Grand Slam title. Following her victory, Swiatek joined Aryna Sabalenka as the only two women to reach the quarter-finals in the last six Grand Slams, demonstrating remarkable consistency.
Throughout the match, Swiatek’s prowess was evident, particularly in her early play as she swiftly broke Inglis’s serve. The first set was over in a blink, wrapping up in just 32 minutes, marking the 33rd time she has won a 6-0 set in Grand Slam competition.
Though Inglis managed to hold serve and finally get on the board at the beginning of the second set, Swiatek quickly regained control, displaying a range of skills, including sharp volleys and clever drop shots. She secured her victory with a decisive match point, setting up an intriguing quarter-final clash against Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina, ranked No. 5 in the world, earned her place in the last eight by defeating Elise Mertens in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. This victory marked Rybakina’s sixth consecutive win over Mertens and her first Grand Slam quarter-final since her run to the Wimbledon semis in 2024.
Post-match, Rybakina noted her improved movement and effective serving, stating, “Today was hot, so the ball was flying a lot. I got some good service games.” She saved the only break point she faced in the match with an ace, setting a commanding tone early on. The Kazakh’s power and precision in her serve were on full display, evidenced by her adding 10 aces to her tally, bringing her total to 24 in the tournament.
Rybakina’s aggressive return game significantly pressured Mertens, contributing to her dominant win. By the time the match concluded in an hour and 17 minutes, Rybakina had registered 32 winners, making her a formidable opponent as she looks to take on Swiatek in the quarter-finals, where the two women have a closely contested head-to-head record, with Swiatek leading 6-5.
As both players prepare for their upcoming clash, Rybakina acknowledged the need for careful strategy, stating, “When we played here, it was also hot, so the ball was flying. We will see what’s going to be the conditions.” If successful against Swiatek, Rybakina would reach her second semi-final in Melbourne and get one step closer to securing her maiden Australian Open title.
