NEW DELHI:

Iga Swiatek

advanced to the

Australian Open

's third round with a commanding 6-0, 6-2 victory over

Rebecca Sramkova

, marking her continued return to competition following a doping suspension in the previous year.
The second-seeded player immediately established dominance by breaking Sramkova's serve in the opening game and maintained control throughout the match.
The Slovakian player, ranked 49th globally and making her Grand Slam second-round debut, struggled against Swiatek's superior technique and forceful play.

In the initial set lasting 27 minutes, Swiatek dominated by winning 64 percent of points on Sramkova's first serve, surrendering merely 10 points.
The Rod Laver Arena audience warmly applauded when Sramkova finally secured her first game in the eighth game of the match.

Swiatek maintained her authority throughout, securing victory in precisely 60 minutes.
"I felt really solid today and it was a really efficient game," said Swiatek. "I'm happy that I kept my focus."
Her next opponent will be Emma Raducanu, the former US Open champion, who defeated Amanda Anisimova.
Under new coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek is implementing fresh strategies as she pursues her first Australian Open championship.

The five-time Grand Slam champion lost her top ranking to current champion Aryna Sabalenka last year, following a month-long suspension.
Her previous performances in Melbourne have been modest, with her best result being a semi-final appearance in 2022.

Swiatek has recently partnered with Fissette, Naomi Osaka's former coach, towards 2023's end.
The Belgian coach has introduced a hitting partner for Swiatek's Australian campaign, a first for her, and she reports positive progress.
"He's been great," said Swiatek. "I feel like he's really supportive."

"And you know being on the women's tour, I think it's not easy especially when most of the coaches are men. They also need to understand what we go through sometimes."
"I feel like Wim is doing that very well."
Swiatek pulled out of the WTA's late-season Asian swing in 2024 citing "personal matters" only for it later to emerge she had been under a one-month suspension for testing positive for a banned heart medication. She denies knowingly doping.