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Emma Raducanu endured the joint-heaviest defeat of her career as world number two Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance in a lopsided Australian Open third-round encounter.

Raducanu, ranked 61st in the world, was overpowered 6-1, 6-0 on Rod Laver Arena in just 70 minutes. The 22-year-old Briton struggled to hold serve, losing five service games and committing numerous unforced errors as Swiatek dictated play.

This marks the second time Raducanu has won only one game in a match, a repeat of her 6-0, 6-1 loss to Elena Rybakina in Sydney three years ago.

“She played very well, but I also think I didn’t play very well. It’s just not a great combination,” Raducanu said after the match.

Swiatek’s Dominance Continues
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, has been in imperious form in Melbourne, not dropping a set or even a service game in her first three rounds. Despite never advancing past the semi-finals in Australia, the 23-year-old Pole sent a strong message to her rivals with her performance against Raducanu.

“If a top player is playing perfect, it’s already going to be a difficult match,” Raducanu acknowledged.

While both players won Grand Slam titles as teenagers—Raducanu at the 2021 US Open and Swiatek at the 2020 French Open—their careers have since diverged. Swiatek has solidified her status as a dominant force on the WTA Tour, winning three consecutive French Open titles and the US Open in 2022.

Raducanu, on the other hand, has faced challenges with injuries and form, including surgeries on her wrist and ankle in 2023. She is still working her way back after falling out of the world’s top 300 rankings.

Swiatek now holds a 4-0 record against Raducanu, with this match highlighting the stark gap between the two players. Swiatek’s powerful, spin-heavy groundstrokes and athleticism proved too much for Raducanu, who struggled particularly with her backhand under pressure.

Raducanu Reflects on the Loss
Raducanu admitted the “harsh” scoreline was reflective of her struggles, particularly on serve. “If I’m not able to hold my service games or dictate, it seeps into the rest of my game,” she said, noting the pressure this placed on her second serves and return games.

Despite the disappointment, Raducanu found positives in her performance at Melbourne Park, where she achieved a career-best run. Battling a back injury and limited preparation—only returning to hitting three weeks prior—Raducanu showed resilience in her earlier wins over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova.

“There are no excuses with the back or physically,” she said. “Given the preparation we had, we have to be grateful to be in this position.”

Raducanu’s exit from the Australian Open highlights the challenges of her return to full fitness, while Swiatek moves closer to her goal of a maiden Melbourne title.