Swiatek Survives Kalinskaya Scare To Reach Australian Open Last 16

On a sizzling day at Melbourne Park, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek weathered both the heat and a spirited challenge from Anna Kalinskaya to claim her place in the Australian Open’s round of 16. The third-round showdown on Margaret Court Arena delivered everything fans could hope for: momentum swings, medical timeouts, and a performance that left no doubt about Swiatek’s championship ambitions—even as she was forced to dig deep against a dangerous opponent.

Swiatek, a two-time semifinalist in Melbourne and the reigning world No. 2, came into the match with a point to prove. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam missing from her resume, and after last year’s semifinal finish, the Polish star looked determined to change that narrative. But standing in her way was Anna Kalinskaya, the 31st seed, who had made the quarterfinals here just two years ago and was fresh off wins over Sonay Kartal and Julia Grabher.

From the outset, Swiatek imposed her will. Her movement was razor-sharp, and she wasted no time in breaking Kalinskaya’s serve to jump out to a 3-1 lead. The Pole’s aggression paid off handsomely as she dictated play with powerful groundstrokes, forcing error after error from her Russian rival. Swiatek’s serve was nearly untouchable in the opening set—she dropped just a handful of points and wrapped up the set 6-1 in a mere 24 minutes. As one commentator put it, "Swiatek is in a punishing mood as she takes a 3-1 lead in the first set against her Russian opponent."

But tennis is rarely straightforward, and Kalinskaya wasn’t about to fold. The Russian, who leads their head-to-head in Dubai but had lost their last two encounters, regrouped after a medical timeout for a back issue. The break seemed to disrupt Swiatek’s rhythm, and Kalinskaya capitalized, breaking early in the second set and racing to a 3-1 advantage. Her confidence soared as she began to hit more winners—ten in the set, to be exact—and Swiatek’s usually reliable serve deserted her, winning just 13% of points behind her first serve. The Russian’s resurgence was complete as she closed out the set 6-1, leveling the match and sending a buzz through the Margaret Court Arena crowd.

“It’s not surprising for me because I know Anna can play amazing tennis. I didn’t feel like I was playing worse in the second set. I feel she played ‘in’ all of the balls that went out in the first. I wanted to focus on myself, no matter what was going on at the other end. The momentum changed for sure,” Swiatek reflected on court after the match. Her composure in the face of adversity was evident, even as she took a medical timeout of her own to address a finger issue before the deciding set.

The final set saw Swiatek return to her dominant self. She held serve in the opening game—despite a couple of double faults—and then broke Kalinskaya with a backhand winner that sent a clear message: she was back in control. Swiatek consolidated the break to move ahead 3-0, and it was clear the momentum had shifted for good. Kalinskaya, hampered once again by her back, managed to get on the board at 5-1, but Swiatek was relentless, sealing the set—and the match—6-1. The entire contest lasted just under one hour and 45 minutes, but it was a rollercoaster from start to finish.

For Swiatek, the victory marked her third win in four meetings with Kalinskaya, including their third-round battle at last year’s US Open. It also improved her 2026 record to 6-2, while Kalinskaya, who had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the Australian summer, dropped to 4-3. The head-to-head now stands at 3-1 in Swiatek’s favor, but the Polish star was quick to acknowledge her opponent’s threat: “It’s not surprising to me because I know Anna can produce some very good tennis. On the other hand, she takes a lot of risks. I wanted to stay alert if an opportunity arose. I don’t think I played any worse in the second set. I had to stay focused on myself no matter what was happening on the other side of the net. I kept fighting because I knew the match dynamics could change.”

Statistically, the match was a tale of two sets for Swiatek. She dominated the first and third sets with aggressive play and strong serving, but the second set exposed some vulnerabilities, particularly on serve. Kalinskaya’s 10 winners in the second set and her ability to capitalize on Swiatek’s errors made for a tense middle act. Yet Swiatek’s ability to reset and raise her level in the decider was the hallmark of a true champion. The point-by-point data reveals a match full of break points, momentum shifts, and high-pressure moments—exactly what fans expect in a Grand Slam.

With the win, Swiatek advances to face Maddison Inglis in the round of 16. Inglis, the Australian hopeful, advanced after Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal, setting up an intriguing clash for a spot in the quarterfinals. Swiatek will be the heavy favorite, but as the Kalinskaya match showed, nothing is guaranteed at this stage of a major. Inglis will have the home crowd behind her, and Swiatek will need to maintain her focus if she hopes to keep her dream of an Australian Open title alive.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, big names like Elena Rybakina and Tereza Valentova are set to battle, and the tournament continues to deliver drama and surprises. The third round has been marked by extreme heat, medical timeouts, and matches moved to early morning slots, but the quality of tennis has remained sky-high.

For Swiatek, this hard-fought win could prove to be a turning point. She has often been at her best when tested, and the ability to overcome a second-set wobble—and a physically compromised opponent—will give her confidence heading into the business end of the tournament. With her eyes firmly set on the trophy that has eluded her so far, Swiatek marches on, one step closer to completing her Grand Slam collection.

The action in Melbourne is far from over, and as the Australian Open heads into its second week, all eyes will be on Swiatek to see if she can finally conquer the hard courts of Rod Laver Arena. For now, the Polish star has survived another test—and shown once again why she’s one of the game’s elite.