&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Australian Open 2026: Iga Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket")
World number two Iga Swiatek survived an exit scare on day two of the 2026 Australian Open after beating Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam. During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later. The Polish superstar will next face the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. Although this win was a welcome boost for Swiatek, who lost her last two singles matches at the lead-up United Cup, recording 35 unforced errors comes as a worrying sign against a player who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances.
"I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn't really start well, and she used the opportunity," she said. "But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that's what I tried to do from the middle of the first set.
"I'm happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I'll just focus on that."
Also read | Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner
Swiatek has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park has proved elusive. The 24-year-old has made the semi-finals twice but has never gone further. Should she finally win the title and complete the career Grand Slam, she would be only the seventh woman in the Open era to do so and the third youngest after Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.
‘Unfazed Yuan pushed Swiatek to limits’
Trending Stories
)
US-Iran War: Trump ready to bomb Tehran, deploys B-1 bomber, envoys flee city
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia puts its biggest warship Admiral Nakhimov back in action
)
Union minister Ravneet Bittu resigns from cabinet; President Murmu accepts resignation
)
India to test fire three Kusha long-range surface-to-air missiles | Gravitas
)
Delhi NEET protests: How Bluetooth mesh apps kept communication alive without internet
)
Israel mulls national drone ban after Iran claims to have tripled drone production | Gravitas
)
Indian national killed in Black Sea vessel attack; MEA condemns strike
)
Dharmendra Pradhan's daughter deactivates IG, LinkedIn as protesters demand her father's resignation, target her university page
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Jennifer Winget and William Ishmael's dreamy UK intimate wedding: See inside photos
)
Trump says US in talks with Iran, no decision yet on major strikes. Here’s what it means
)
Mystery of ancient burial: Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old skeleton in El Salvador
)
Scientists decode rare metal that allows China's radar satellite to spy over Asia Pacific
)
Why more than 75,000 people watched a record Qantas flight on Flightradar24 Friday?
)
Russian strike on Kyiv drone expo kills 10, injures around 100. This is what we know
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police block 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia unleashes 28000 tonne nuclear giant ship
)
Accidental overdose: UK inquest rules out foul play in Saudi Prince’s London death
)
Karim Khan ousted as ICC prosecutor over alleged sexual offence case. Details inside
)
All 28 Indian crew members safe after LPG tanker attacked in Iranian waters: Indian Embassy in Tehran
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 24, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, Pallichattambi- Watch these 6 titles on Netflix, Prime Video and more
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 fires its missiles straight up into the air
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia unleashes 28,000 tonne nuclear giant ship, Admiral Nakhimov
)
Mysterious rope leads plumber to find gold worth Rs 23 crore in old Vienna villa
)
US imposes new sanctions against Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani for enabling regime
)
Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report
)
Jana Nayagan box office collection: Here's how much CM Vijay's political drama mints on day 1
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
)
US-Iran war | CENTCOM: 12 military targets across seven Iranian provinces hit
)
Russia-Ukrain War: Ukraine strikes Putin's missile factory over 1,000 km inside Russia
Yuan, ranked 130, was unfazed by facing a player of her stature and came out with all guns blazing. She broke a shaky Swiatek's first service game and consolidated with a hold.
Swiatek had to fend off a break point on her next serve before she settled and got on the board. With her radar seemingly starting to function, she broke to level the set at 3-3, but Yuan again pounced to break back.
Swiatek finally came good when Yuan served for the set, with her powerful groundstrokes too much for the Chinese player.
It headed for a tiebreak where Swiatek again had to fight hard before getting over the line, with 21 unforced errors in the set.
She raced 3-0 clear in the second set, and when Yuan had a medical timeout for a lower back issue, it appeared to be all over. But the plucky 27-year-old won the next two games to stay alive before running out of steam.
(With inputs from AFP)
