Iga Swiatek survives scare, Pegula falls at Australian Open

Prime-ranked Iga Swiatek rallied from 4-1 down within the third set to flee with a slim 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins on Thursday and advance to the third spherical of the Australian Open.

Fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula, a quarterfinalist in every of the previous three years, was crushed 6-4, 6-2 by Clara Burel. It was Pegula’s earliest Grand Slam exit since she misplaced within the second spherical at Wimbledon in 2021.

Sloane Stephens, the US Open winner in 2017, took out No. 14 seed Daria Kasatkina 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to succeed in the third spherical in Melbourne for the primary time since 2019.

In a momentum-swinging opening match, Swiatek was on high after recovering an early break and main by a set and a break earlier than the American participant rallied to take the second set and race to a 4-1 lead with two service breaks within the third.

Collins had three consecutive factors to steer 5-2, however Swiatek absorbed the sustained strain from her opponent’s highly effective groundstrokes till she reversed the momentum on a match-winning five-game roll.

“Oh my God. I do not even know,” Swiatek stated of how she managed to come back again. “Truthfully, I used to be on the airport already. However I needed to battle to the top.

“I am actually pleased with myself, as a result of it wasn’t simple.”

Swiatek had two match factors at 15-40 within the last recreation, however once more Collins rallied, saving these and getting a recreation level with a trademark forehand winner deep to Swiatek’s backhand facet.

However a forehand lengthy and a backhand large from Collins gave Swiatek a 3rd match level, and he or she made no mistake this time, flicking a backhand winner down the road to finish her victory after 3 hours, 14 minutes.

Collins introduced quickly after that 2024 could be her final season on tour.

In one of many event’s hardest opening brackets, each gamers beat previous Australian Open champions within the first spherical; Swiatek defeated 2020 champion Sofia Kenin and Collins overcame 2016 winner Angelique Kerber.

Whereas Swiatek was doing her on-court TV interview, Collins was already en path to a information convention on web site at Melbourne Park, in a a lot sooner exit than standard.

“I misplaced 6-4 within the third to among the best gamers on this planet,” Collins stated. “And she or he performed some nice tennis. [I] left all of it on the court docket.”

A heavy rain bathe at 3-3 within the opening set compelled organizers to shut the roof on Rod Laver, making a 25-minute delay.

After successful three of the subsequent 4 video games to wrap up the primary set, Swiatek was down 5-1 and 40-15 within the second. She saved 5 set factors earlier than Collins clinched it, forcing a deciding third set.

Swiatek, who misplaced to Collins within the semifinals right here two years in the past, was once more down two service breaks and wanted some assist.

“She performed simply completely, however it will be laborious for anyone to maintain that degree,” Swiatek stated. “So I needed to be prepared when extra errors are going to come back from the opposite facet. And I simply needed to push her, and I did that on the finish.”

The four-time main winner subsequent faces No. 50-ranked Linda Noskova, who beat U.S. qualifier McCartney Kessler 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a match that includes two gamers of their Australian Open principal draw debuts.

American No. 27 seed Emma Navarro recovered from a set all the way down to beat 22-year-old Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. No. 19 Elina Svitolina wrapped up a 6-1, 6-3 win over Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova in simply 65 minutes.

The Related Press contributed to this report.