Iga Swiatek rolls through to the third round at Australian Open 2023
Iga Swiatek showed why she is the World No. 1 as she eased past Camila Osorio in the second-round of the 2023 Australian Open.
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Iga Swiatek - IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
Iga Swiatek is a Pole star, literally. On Wednesday afternoon in Melbourne, the top seed from Poland showed a ruthless streak and intense hunger as she dumped Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open. The Melbourne weather was again funny, rain, which restricted play on the outside courts.
At the Rod Laver arena, Iga swatted away her opponent in a match punctuated by heavy artillery exchanges from the baseline. “It was much tougher than the scoreline suggests,” said a happy Iga, praising her opponent from Colombia for hanging in. “She made me run for the ball,” added Iga.
Towards the last few games in the second set, there were good exchanges from the baseline. Some rallies went into 16 shots or more. In the end, the potent Iga forehand, flashy and fiery made the difference. One can see the extreme western forehand grip in use by men but to see the women play with such intensity is refreshing to watch.
It just goes to show women’s tennis is not inferior to men’s in any which way. Camila, from Colombia, did enjoy the atmosphere inside the arena. She was goading the fans to cheer for her when she broke Iga late in the second set. That, however, did not stop the top seed and winner of two Grand Slams in 2022 from slowing down.
Iga Swiatek produced a serving masterclass
If anything, Iga was back on top, ruthless as ever as she closed out the match in an hour and 24 minutes. For those who think Iga has not done well at the AO, the start in 2023 has been solid. Winning two rounds with minimum fuss suggests she is focused and ready to go full tilt.
On the court, Iga is a piece of artwork. Her body is shaped like that of an athlete who spends a lot of time on fitness at the gym and ensuring she uses her inner energy as well. With the roof on at the Rod Laver Arena, players have to hit the ball harder, through the air, and also for generating pace in the serve.
Iga’s serve and swerve were spot on. With a high first-serve percentage, she’s becoming a solid prospect at the Grand Slam Down Under. To be rifling in 80 percent of her first serves was delightful to watch as the Iga camp in the stands with the Polish flag in hand was cheering her on. Her fastest firsts serve was at 182 kmph, which is what some men hit at.
And the average first-serve speed was estimated at 159kmph. One did not need match stats to capture her domination. Yet 19 winners on either flank were a reflection of her being on the ascendant. She converted six of the eight break points, which helped her roll through with an eye on the clock. After all, an early lunch in Melbourne, rest and rehab, and a good ice bath session will get Iga ready for the third round. Her form is ominous, to say the least.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)