Iga Swiatek needed just 55 minutes to win her third-round match against Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa 6-0 6-1 at the 2023 Australian Open.
The top-seeded Swiatek never faced a break point and broke the world No.100 Bucsa’s serve five times as she breezed into the fourth round in Melbourne, where she reached the semifinals in the previous season.
The 21-year-old Swiatek, who won Roland Garros and US Open last year, will next face fellow reigning Grand Slam champion in the fourth round, Elena Rybakina. The 22nd-seeded Kazakh, the winner of Wimbledon 2022, eliminated last year’s Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins 6-2 5-7 6-2 on Friday.
Third seed Jessica Pegula also enjoyed a speedy victory in Margaret Court Arena, ousting Marta Kostyuk 6-0 6-2 in 65 minutes. Pegula’s fourth-round opponent will be 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who advanced with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Anhelina Kalinina.
Victoria Azarenka, the last WTA player to defend the Australian Open title after triumphing in 2012-2013, recovered from a set down to defeat seed No.10 Madison Keys 1-6 6-2 6-1 in the third round. Azarenka has won 45 matches at Melbourne Park, more than any other woman in the draw.
Coco Gauff eased past Bernarda Pera into the fourth round, where she’ll face Jelena Ostapenko.
