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World number one Iga Swiatek made an emphatic statement with a 54-minute rout of Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa to seal her progression to the Australian Open fourth round on Friday.
Swiatek dropped only six points in a 22-minute first set, before completing a 6-0 6-1 demolition over her 25-year-old opponent at Margaret Court Arena.
The Pole led 6-0 5-0, prompting a crowd member to shout “open the bakery”, before Bucsa held her serve to avoid a dreaded double bagel.
Swiatek’s victory sets up a fourth-round clash with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, as the Pole chases her fourth major triumph, including the French Open and US Open crowns last year.
Iga's Bakery 🍩
A ruthless performance from World No. 1 Swiatek!@iga_swiatek • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/ZZYZCpSCuQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2023
The 21-year-old completely outclassed her opponent, winning 82 per cent of serve points, along with 65 per cent on return, including 71 per cent on Bucsa’s second serve. The Spaniard only won 19 of 71 points for the match.
Despite an unconvincing first-serve percentage of 59 per cent, Swiatek never offered up a break point, hitting 15 winners throughout the lopsided contest.
Swiatek has not dropped a set in her three matches at the tournament, giving up only six games in her past two matches.
Swiatek’s swift victory coincidentally came on the afternoon after Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis battled until 4am local time in a five-hour-and-50-minute epic in the men’s singles.
However, the Pole’s 54-minute win was not as brief as last year’s champion Ash Barty who disposed of Danka Kovinic 6-0 6-0 in 44 minutes at the 2021 Australian Open.
