Swiatek Survives Yuan Scare In Thrilling Australian Open Opener

The 2026 Australian Open wasted no time serving up drama, as world No. 2 Iga Swiatek survived a tense opening-round battle against China’s Yuan Yue at Melbourne’s iconic Rod Laver Arena on January 19. Under the bright lights and with all eyes on her quest to complete the elusive career Grand Slam, Swiatek was pushed to her limits by a fearless qualifier ranked 130th in the world. The Pole eventually prevailed 7-6(5), 6-3, but not without moments that had fans holding their breath and questioning whether an upset was brewing in the first week of the year’s first Grand Slam.

Swiatek, already the proud owner of four French Open titles, a US Open crown, and a Wimbledon trophy, entered the match as a heavy favorite. Yet, as the first set unfolded, it was clear that Yuan Yue hadn’t come to be a mere footnote in Swiatek’s story. The Chinese player started with all guns blazing, breaking Swiatek in her very first service game and consolidating the break with a confident hold. Swiatek, who had lost her last two singles matches at the United Cup to Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic, looked a bit rusty and out of sorts.

“I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn’t really start well and she used the opportunity,” Swiatek admitted in her post-match interview, her candor reflecting the tension of the opening set. “But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that’s what I tried to do from the middle of the first set. I’m happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I’ll just focus on that.”

Yuan’s aggressive approach paid dividends early. She broke Swiatek twice in the first set, even serving for the set at 5-4. With her powerful groundstrokes and fearless attitude, Yuan appeared to be playing well above her ranking, drawing loud support from Chinese fans in the stands, who chanted “Jiayou!” (“Come on!”) with every crucial point. Swiatek, however, found her footing just in time. She fended off a break point on her next serve, then broke Yuan to level the set at 3-3, only for Yuan to break back immediately. The rollercoaster continued until Swiatek’s trademark backhand came alive at the most critical moments.

It was in the tiebreak where Swiatek’s champion’s mentality shone through. Despite not having her best day—she racked up 21 unforced errors in that set alone—Swiatek unleashed a furious inside-out backhand winner to claim the tiebreak 7-5. The relief was palpable, but the match was far from over. Swiatek’s total of 35 unforced errors for the match will certainly be a concern as she eyes a deep run in Melbourne.

With the first set in her pocket, Swiatek looked to assert control in the second. She raced out to a 3-0 lead, seemingly poised to cruise through. But Yuan wasn’t done yet. The 27-year-old Chinese player, who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances, called for a medical timeout, complaining of tightness in her thigh and lower back. After receiving treatment courtside, Yuan returned to the baseline with renewed vigor, breaking Swiatek and narrowing the gap to 3-2. The contest was back on, and the crowd could sense the tension rising once more.

Yuan’s resilience was on full display as she saved a match point on her own serve at 5-3, refusing to bow out quietly. Swiatek, though, kept her composure and finally closed out the match with a sizzling backhand return down the line, sealing her place in the second round after more than two hours of high-octane tennis.

For Swiatek, the victory was both a relief and a wake-up call. Her 35 unforced errors and slow start highlighted areas for improvement, but her ability to dig deep and find a way to win when it mattered most is exactly what separates the greats from the rest. “There are things to work on,” she reiterated, fully aware that tougher tests await if she is to claim her first Australian Open title.

The stakes in Melbourne are enormous for Swiatek. Should she lift the trophy at the Australian Open, she would become only the seventh woman in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam, joining legends like Steffi Graf and Serena Williams. At 24, she would also be the third youngest to achieve this rare feat—a testament to her rapid ascent and dominance across all surfaces.

Yuan Yue, meanwhile, exits the tournament with her head held high. Her performance against a top seed on one of the sport’s grandest stages will surely boost her confidence for the rest of the season. She showed she can hang with the very best, breaking Swiatek three times and pushing her to the brink in the first set. For a player ranked outside the top 100, that’s no small achievement.

Swiatek’s next challenge comes in the form of Czech player Marie Bouzkova, who awaits in the second round. Bouzkova, known for her gritty baseline play and tactical awareness, will be eager to test Swiatek’s form and capitalize on any lingering rustiness. With the pressure of Grand Slam history bearing down, all eyes will remain fixed on Swiatek’s campaign in Melbourne.

For tennis fans eager to follow every twist and turn of the tournament, the match was streamed live for free on Australia’s 9Now platform, with global viewers able to tune in using VPN services such as ExpressVPN. The VPN provider, recommended for its high-speed connections and robust privacy features, offered a one-year subscription for $59.88 (plus three months free) or a monthly plan at $12.99, ensuring that no one had to miss out on the action, no matter where they were in the world.

As the 2026 Australian Open continues, Swiatek’s hard-fought win over Yuan serves as both a warning and a promise: the road to Grand Slam glory is never easy, but she’s not backing down. With her eyes on history and the competition heating up, Melbourne’s courts are set for even more fireworks in the days to come.