In a stunning display of resilience, Iga Swiatek triumphed over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, securing her spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a scoreline of 6:1, 1:6, 6:1. This victory marks not only her advancement to the last 16 but also a significant bounce-back after dropping the second set in what was a closely contested match.
Swiatek, who has been competing professionally for seven years, achieved this win against Kalinskaya in a manner that is relatively rare at this level, displaying a dramatic back-and-forth throughout the match. The first set was swiftly concluded in just 24 minutes, while the second extended to 40 minutes before Swiatek regained control in the final set, which lasted 36 minutes.
The match against Kalinskaya also highlighted a distinctive pattern for Swiatek, as it was the first time in 605 days she secured victory after losing the second set following an initial win. Her last encounter with such circumstances was against Naomi Osaka at Roland Garros in May 2024, where she rallied to win after dropping a set, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure.
Reflecting on her recent performances, Swiatek has encountered instances where she won the first set only to lose the second decisively in other matches. For example, at the United Cup, she lost to Belinda Bencic after winning the first set, and this was similar to her match against Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals last year.
Swiatek’s recent statistics in three-set matches show a commendable record, with her performance peaking in 2022 when she won 16 of 21 such matches. So far in 2023, she has won 2 out of 3 three-set encounters, indicating her strong competitive spirit as she navigates her path through the tournament.
Looking ahead, Swiatek is set to face Australian player Maddison Inglis in the fourth round. Inglis earned her place in the main draw through the qualifiers and will undoubtedly be looking to capitalize on home-court advantage. For Swiatek, this is her sixth consecutive Grand Slam where she has reached the second week, underscoring her growing dominance in women’s tennis. The match is scheduled to begin at 9 AM Polish time and will be broadcast on Eurosport as well as HBO Max, allowing fans to follow her journey as she strives for further success.