Jan 16, (V7N) - Iga Swiatek powered into the third round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova on Thursday, marking another milestone in her comeback after serving a doping ban last year.

The second-seeded Swiatek quickly took control, breaking Sramkova's opening service game and maintaining her dominance throughout the match. The world number 49, playing in the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time, struggled to handle Swiatek's precision and power. Swiatek won 64% of points off Sramkova's first serve and conceded just 10 points in a 27-minute first set.

Though Sramkova earned loud cheers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd when she finally won a game in the second set, Swiatek remained firmly in charge, sealing the win in exactly one hour.

"I felt really solid today and it was a really efficient game," Swiatek said. "I'm happy that I kept my focus."

Next, Swiatek will face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who defeated Amanda Anisimova, for a spot in the last 16.

Swiatek has adjusted her approach this season under new coach Wim Fissette, aiming for her first Australian Open title. The five-time Grand Slam champion lost her world number one ranking to Aryna Sabalenka last season after serving a one-month doping suspension for a banned heart medication, a charge she denies knowingly committing.

Historically, Swiatek has underperformed in Melbourne, only advancing past the fourth round once—in 2022, when she reached the semi-finals.

Working with Fissette, Naomi Osaka's former coach, Swiatek has introduced a hitting partner into her preparation for the first time in Australia. She praised Fissette for his support and understanding.

"He's been great," Swiatek said. "Being on the women's tour isn't easy, especially when most coaches are men. They need to understand what we go through sometimes, and Wim does that very well."

Swiatek had withdrawn from the 2024 WTA Asian swing due to "personal matters," later revealed to be a one-month doping suspension.

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