Australian Open: Top Seed Swiatec Bows Out, As Djokovic Reaches 4th Round
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has ousted world No.1 Iga Swiatek from the Australian Open with a stunning fourth-round victory at Rod Laver Arena.
Swiatek was the hot favourite to claim her first Melbourne Park title and fourth grand slam crown but had no answers to the big-serving 22nd seed Rybakina, who triumphed 6-4 6-4 on Sunday.
The 23-year-old will next face 17th seed and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who eliminated world No.7 Coco Gauff 7-5 6-3 in another upset.
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Rybakina had never gone further than the Open’s third round before this year but showed impressive poise when it mattered, including winning the second set after trailing 3-0.
In reaching the quarter-finals, Rybakina also snapped defending French and US Open champion Swiatek’s 10-match winning run at grand slams.
‘It was a really tough match and I really respect Iga because of the streak she had at the grand slams,’ Rybakina said.
In a relates development, Novak Djokovic reached the 4th round of the Australian Open 2023 on Saturday. Serbian ace Djokovic trounced Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to progress.
Djokovic was made to work hard in the first set before making things easier. He won 7-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The former world number one is chasing a record-extending 10th title in Melbourne.
