Swiatek subdues Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 in Aussie Open third round

Iga Swiatek is on a mission. The 24-year-old from Poland, ranked world #2, is seeking her first Australian Open title, having twice (in 2022 & 2025) reached the penultimate round. Should she prevail, she’d be the third youngest woman to achieve the career grand slam.

It appeared from the outset that Swiatek was going to steamroll her opponent, but the 27-year-old Russian and 31st seed refused to comply. Anna Kalinskaya, still in search of her maiden WTA tour title, is currently ranked #33, having achieved a career high of #11 in 2024. That same year at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai, she defeated Swiatek in straight sets, her lone victory in three meetings.

Neither player had dropped a set through two rounds in Melbourne. Swiatek won the toss and elected to serve. In 98-degree weather under a closed roof, Swiatek hit two winners, including an ace out wide, and held to love while Kalinskaya donated four unforced errors, including a double fault and dumped serve.

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Swiatek opened the third with two consecutive backhand winners and, though she gifted a double fault, consolidated the break for 3-0. Kalinskaya made 4/4 first serves and held to love to get on the board.

Swiatek opened the fifth with an inside-out forehand winner and held to 15 for 4-1. Kalinskaya committed three groundstroke errors, faced double break point, and dropped serve. While Swiatek stalked the baseline with her exceptional footwork, Kalinskaya appeared physically and emotionally flat.

The six-time grand slam champion serving for the set hit two winners, including her second ace, and following a netted return, secured it in twenty-four minutes. Kalinskaya took a medical time out for her back following the conclusion of the set.

The Russian serving with new balls missed 5/6 first serves, including a double fault, yet managed to hold to 30 while Swiatek committed two forehand errors, faced deuce, two break points, and dumped serve.

Following the visit from the physio, Kalinskaya seemed to move better and swing more freely. She opened the third with a fantastic forehand down the line but gave back the break with two backhand errors and a blistering crosscourt forehand winner from Swiatek.

The second seed was unable to consolidate the break and, with three costly errors, gave it back. Kalinskaya opened the fifth with two consecutive errors off deep returns and faced three deuce and three break points, but held for 4-1 with her first ace and an overcooked forehand return from Swiatek.

The reigning Wimbledon champion seemed to have lost focus and belief. She donated three consecutive unforced errors, including another double fault, and was broken at love. Kalinskaya, with depth and pace, struck three colossal forehands, the last inside-out to seal the set 6-1.

Following the conclusion of the set, Swiatek was treated for what appeared to be a blister on her right hand. She served first in the decider and though she hit two consecutive double faults, held to 30 with three winners while Kalinskaya missed 3/6 first serves and gifted two consecutive backhand errors to drop serve.

Swiatek, serving with new balls, opened with two consecutive backhand winners and held to 30 to consolidate the break. Kalinskaya opened the third with three consecutive errors, faced triple break point, and with a fourth, dumped serve. Swiatek maintained momentum and held to love for 5-0 with a stunning crosscourt backhand winner.    

Kalinskaya, serving to stay in the match, made 5/6 first serves, including her second ace on game point. Swiatek served for the match and a coveted spot in the round of sixteen. Although she opened with a formidable forehand winner, she struggled to cross the finish line. She donated three unforced errors, faced four deuce and three break points, but converted her second match point with a spectacular inside-in forehand.

She has reached the fourth round down under for the fourth time. She finished with 24 winners to 29 unforced errors, saved 4/7 break points while converting 5/11. She won 66% of first and 52% of second serve points and struck 2 aces to 4 double faults.

While she upped the ante when it mattered, she’ll need to serve better and commit fewer errors if she hopes to progress to the quarters. Her next opponent is an Australian qualifier, Madison Inglis, who received a walkover from Naomi Osaka.

Inglis is currently ranked #168 but achieved a career-high rank of 112. With three qualifying matches under her belt and two impressive three-set wins over compatriot Katie Birrell (6-4 in the 3rd) and tour veteran Laura Siegemund ( 10-7 in the 3rd set breaker), the twenty-eight-year-old will compete with an abundance of confidence and partisan support.  

This will be their second tour-level meeting and first at the Grand Slam level. Swiatek won in straights five years ago in Adelaide. This match, destined for an evening session, is a must-see.