Iga Swiatek passes first test in Australian Open round 1

In a highly anticipated Australian Open first-round match between two Grand Slam champions Tuesday, World No.1 Iga Swiatek survived a stern challenge from Sofia Kenin inside Rod Laver Arena.

In the pair's first match since they met in the Roland Garros final four years ago, World No.1 Swiatek came from a break down twice in the first set against the woman who won her only major title in Melbourne in 2020. The American, that season's WTA Player of the Year, led 3-1 and served for a one-set lead at 5-4.

But Swiatek wrapped up the opener after more than an hour on court -- in a set in which she hit 21 winners to 12 -- and won the last five games in a 7-6(2), 6-2 victory that lasted 1 hour and 51 minutes.

Swiatek has now won her past 17 matches dating back to a loss to Veronika Kudermetova in Tokyo on Sept. 28. It's the longest winning streak on the Hologic WTA Tour since Swiatek posted a 37-match win streak in 2022.

Stat of the match: Swiatek snapped Kenin's four-match winning streak inside Rod Laver Arena. The American won her last three rounds in Melbourne's main stadium in her 2020 title run and her opening match the next year.

Meeting the moment: After Swiatek edged the first set tiebreak, she saved all three break points she faced in the second set. The first came in her first service game, which stretched to four deuces, and she wiped away a 15-40 threat in the sixth game after she broke Kenin previously at 2-2.

Swiatek speaks: "I felt a little bit off in terms of the timing. You could see I played a couple of frames," she said.

"For sure, the temperature was higher than any match I played this season. I needed to adjust to that. The balls were a little bit flying out of control. That's normal in these conditions.

"At the beginning, I knew I could do a little bit more in terms of the placement. I wanted to be more aggressive. But on the other hand I was backing down a little bit. I just wanted to go forward and be proactive and have initiative. For sure when I started second set, it was a little bit easier for me to do that."

Up next: Up next for Swiatek is a match against another American, Danielle Collins, against whom she lost in the semifinals of the 2022 Australian Open. But Swiatek has won their other five meetings, including three last year.

She lost just one game in two of them -- in Doha and Cincinnati -- but was pushed to three sets in Montreal.

"For sure I can't say that I have easy draw here," Swiatek said. "I'll try to do my best. Danielle is a really good player. We played really tight matches. On the other hand our last match was pretty -- I mean, from the score, I had it under control. We'll see.

"Every match is different. I'm not going to anticipate anything. I'm just going to be ready and we'll see."

wtatennis.com

Ugh why couldn't Iga just play Angie Kerber in round 2. 

I cannot stand Danielle Collins I find her very abrasive. 

And her screaming after every point really gets on my nerves. 

Hopefully Iga will handle it and we can move on to a slightly easier 3rd round. After which the draw only gets worse (poor Iga received the draw from hell this tournament). 

I was really proud of the way Iga handled herself in this match. 

Didn't get too frustrated, or panic being down a break twice in the first set. 

And saved break points with some lovely clutch serving. 

A nice stern test that will undoubtedly help her going forward. 

On to the next one. 

Jazda!