Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Emma Raducanu has unexpectedly shown a high level at the start of the Australian Open, reaching the Round of 32 on a hard court Grand Slam for the first time since 2021. Standing in her way is the world No. 2, Iga Świątek. The Pole is confidently advancing through the opening rounds and will aim to secure the title, especially after past disappointments in the tournament — reaching the Round of 16 in 2023 and Round of 32 in 2024.
Emma Raducanu
The British player is fighting hard despite evident struggles in her game. In matches against Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova, Raducanu frequently found herself in difficult situations but managed to mount comebacks. Against Alexandrova, she saved a set point in the first set (7:6, 7:6), and faced down two breaks in the second set against Anisimova (6:3, 7:5). However, her statistics raise questions: 34 winners against 47 unforced errors, and she faced 27 break points, losing 11 games on her serve. On hard courts, Raducanu has faced top-10 players five times and lost all five.
Iga Świątek
Świątek is performing at a steady level, dominating on return and minimising errors. In her first two matches, the Pole committed only six unforced errors and converted nine out of 11 break points (82%). Against Kristina Shramkova, Świątek didn’t concede a single break point (6:0, 6:2). The only hard court match between Świątek and Raducanu in 2022 ended in victory for Świątek (6:3, 6:1) — she has won all seven matches against British players.
Emma Raducanu vs Iga Świątek Prediction
Świątek appears too consistent and powerful for Raducanu, who is plagued by instability in her serve and a high number of mistakes. Raducanu will encounter long and intensive rallies, where Świątek thrives. Raducanu's struggles from the baseline are likely to worsen, so we are backing a win for Świątek with a handicap.
