World number two Iga Swiatek began her bid for tennis history at the Australian Open 2026 with a tense first-round victory over Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue. The Pole, chasing her career Grand Slam, struggled early but eventually prevailed 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to advance to the second round at Rod Laver Arena.

Career Grand Slam on the Line

Swiatek, who has already won four French Open titles, the 2022 US Open, and last year’s Wimbledon, is seeking the only major missing from her collection: the Australian Open. A win this fortnight would secure her seventh Grand Slam title and a spot in tennis history.

Despite her decorated résumé, Swiatek appeared vulnerable in the first round, grappling with her serve and committing 34 unforced errors. The match exposed areas she needs to refine ahead of tougher opponents later in the tournament.

“It wasn’t perfect, but that’s why I am happy because it’s not hard to win matches when everything is going well. Today it wasn’t, but I managed to win, so that’s good,” Swiatek said post-match.

Second-Round Challenge Awaits

Swiatek will face Czech world number 44 Marie Bouzkova in round two, and she acknowledged that her second serve in particular needs work, after Yuan won 59% of points on it.

Reflecting on her season so far, Swiatek noted:

“I was a bit rusty at the beginning. I didn’t start well, and she seized the opportunity. Many ups and downs, but I have some stuff to work on.”

The start of the season has been mixed for Swiatek. She lifted the United Cup with Poland earlier this month but suffered losses to Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic, highlighting the challenges ahead in Melbourne.

Other Top Seeds Ease Through

While Swiatek struggled, other top seeds made comfortable starts in the Australian Open first round:

• Coco Gauff defeated Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3, despite committing seven double faults early in the match. The 21-year-old two-time Grand Slam winner quickly settled and recorded her 75th Grand Slam match win. She will next face Olga Danilovic, who overcame 45-year-old Venus Williams.
• Amanda Anisimova, seeded fourth, needed just 60 minutes to beat Switzerland’s Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2, emphasizing her status as a title contender following US Open and Wimbledon final runs last season.
• Jessica Pegula, the sixth seed, also impressed with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Anastasia Zakharova, while Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva came from a set down to defeat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 4-6, 6-0, 6-0, winning 25 of 32 points in the decisive set.

Key Takeaways

1. Swiatek’s vulnerability: Despite her experience, Swiatek needs to improve her serve and consistency to maintain her bid for a career Grand Slam.
2. Strong performances from other seeds: Gauff, Anisimova, and Pegula have shown early form, setting up an intriguing draw in Melbourne.
3. Potential for upsets: With young contenders like Andreeva in the mix, the Australian Open promises to be highly competitive.

Swiatek’s shaky start serves as a reminder that even top players face challenges on the road to Grand Slam glory. If she can refine her serve and cut down on errors, her quest to complete the career Grand Slam remains very much alive.