World number one and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was pushed to her limits in her opening match at the 2026 Australian Open on Monday, narrowly avoiding a major upset against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue.
A Rocky Start on Rod Laver Arena
The Polish superstar, widely tipped as a tournament favourite, found herself in an unexpected battle from the outset. Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm against a determined Yuan Yue, who capitalised on early errors to seize the initiative. The first set saw the top seed trailing, forcing her to dig deep and produce some of her signature clutch tennis to force a tie-break.
In a tense breaker that had the Melbourne crowd on the edge of their seats, Swiatek's experience ultimately told. She edged it 7-5 to claim a crucial first-set advantage that had seemed unlikely just moments earlier.
Swiatek Regains Control to Secure Victory
Having navigated the first-set peril, a relieved Swiatek began to impose her game with more authority in the second. Her powerful groundstrokes found their mark with greater consistency, and she managed to break Yuan's serve to take control.
The match concluded after one hour and 48 minutes of intense competition, with Swiatek booking her place in the second round with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory on the iconic Rod Laver Arena.
Post-Match Reflections and Looking Ahead
Speaking candidly after the match, Swiatek acknowledged her performance was far from perfect. She admitted to feeling "a bit rusty" during the early exchanges and stated clearly that she has "things to work on" before her next outing.
This hard-fought win serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by early-round opponents at a Grand Slam, especially talented qualifiers with nothing to lose. While Swiatek advanced, the match highlighted areas for improvement as she seeks to add an Australian Open title to her illustrious collection.
All eyes will now be on her second-round performance to see if she can shake off the rust and deliver the dominant tennis that has made her the sport's premier player.
