MELBOURNE (AFP) – Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu yesterday to sweep into the last 16 of the Australian Open as 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils stunned fourth seed Taylor Fritz.
Also on day seven in Melbourne, American qualifier Learner Tien, 19, won in straight sets to reach the second week and extend his fairytale run.
World number one Jannik Sinner will step up his title defence in later action.
In a one-sided battle of former US Open champions, Swiatek romped to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown.
“I felt like the ball is listening to me,” Swiatek said after rattling off 11 straight games in a brutal display against Britain’s Raducanu on Rod Laver Arena.
The 23-year-old Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
She faces world number 128 German Eva Lys next.
Monfils rolled back the years to storm back and defeat the American Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.
The unseeded Monfils, who hit a career-high ranking of six in 2016 but is now 41st, is enjoying a late-career flourish.
A week ago the Frenchman became the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history when he swept to victory at the Auckland Classic.
