Incident at the Australian Open! Despite owning four Grand Slams, Iga Swiatek has never advanced beyond the semi-finals of the Australian Open . Couldn’t do it this time either. The world number one and top ranked Polish star had to leave in the third round. That too to the 19-year-old from the Czech Republic, Linda Noskova, ranked 50th in the world. Results 6-3, 3-6, 4-6. Who is playing in the Australian Open, 2024 for the first time.
Swiatek lost to 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kanin and 2022 finalist Daniela Collins in the first 2 rounds. It was his 18th win in a row. But he didn’t seem in rhythm after winning the first set on Saturday. After saving a break point in the seventh game of the second set, Noskova won 11 of the next twelve points to level the match. In the third round, Noskova finally got a match point with an ace serve, putting pressure on Iga in the same way. Then he won the match when Iger put four hands in the wrong place.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match, but I didn’t think it would end like this. I’m very happy to go one more round,” said the ecstatic Czech after the win. He added, “I know my game. The game has improved a lot in the last year and a half. I believed in myself. I wanted to win.”
However, despite the loss, Iga wants to focus on the upcoming competitions without being disappointed. He said, “It’s true that I lost, but there is more competition. I remember that I stood up from such a situation last year as well. I will move forward with the same goal this year.”
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the fourth round in men’s singles. His opponent Sang Juncheng of China withdrew with an injury early in the third set of the match on Saturday. At that time the 18-year-old Spanish star was leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0. “No one wants to win like this,” Alcaraz said after the match. Who withdrew himself from the Australian Open last time due to injury. Remembering that, he said, “Last year I had to sit at home and watch the Australian Open. I wanted to play in the second week too. This is the first time I will play in the second week at Melbourne Park. So it feels great.”
In the fourth round Alcaras will play against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic. who saved match point and defeated last time semi-finalist Tommy Paul 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-0.
In the women’s singles, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka advanced to the pre-quarters after defeating 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko. This is his seventh pre-quarter. Result 6-1, 7-5. The star of Belarus said, like to take the challenge. There is no escape. You have to fight from the front without being afraid. Azarenka’s next opponent is Diana Yastremska. who defeated number 27 seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.