Iga Swiatek rounds into form with emphatic Australian Open win over Camila Osorio

WATCH: Swiatek faces the media after her first round Australian Open win over Jule Niemeier.

Melbourne brought the story weather, but it was Iga Swiatek who made it rain on Rod Laver Arena, opening Day 3 of the 2023 Australian Open with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 win over Camila Osorio that puts her a win away from the second week.

“I think it was much tougher than the score says,” Swiatek told Jelena Dokic on court after the match. “It was really intense, physically, and Camila was really running to every ball. She didn’t give up, and didn’t give me many points for free, so I really needed to really work for each of them. It was tough, but I’m really happy that I was consistent in being proactive and trying to play a bit faster with pressure. I’m really happy I won and can play the next round.”

Fresh off a hard-fought opener against German rival Jule Niemeier, Swiatek and Osorio treated the crowd to some entertaining points as the scrappy Colombian did all she could to disrupt the top seed’s rhythm, ultimately to no avail as Swiatek secured victory in 84 minutes.

Swiatek played such dominant tennis in 2022 that it was easy to question how much she could maintain that often unbeatable form into the new year. She ended the season with a flat WTA Finals defeat to Aryna Sabalenka and the stress of recovering—much less improving—that peak form appeared to overwhelm her at the end of her United Cup campaign as she broke down in tears following a shock defeat to Jessica Pegula.

Down 3-5 in the second set to Niemeier on Monday, Swiatek appeared overdue for a slow start if not a sophomore slump. But where past champions require rhythm to shift their high-octane groundstrokes into turbo, Swiatek’s impossibly high margins allow her to play into form without sacrificing the first-strike tennis that has already earned her three major titles.

“It’s always easier to start well. You feel like you have more control, but there are many factors, that you have to see. It also depends on the opponent, but my goal is to win every game so I’m trying to be proactive.

“In my first round I was more waiting for chances, and now I want to force everything I can to get my chances.”

She reeled off the final four games of her first match and raced through the first four games of her second against Osorio, who peaked just outside the Top 30 when she reached her third WTA final last spring. Down to No. 84 after a Wimbledon injury slowed her progress, the charming youngster blends relentless defense with audacious shotmaking, making her far more dangerous than the sport’s typical retriever.

Yet for as much as Osorio impressed the crowd with her tenacious enthusiasm, Swiatek never appeared off-axis as she broke serve six times and struck a clean 19 winners to 16 unforced errors, shaking off late breaks in each set to win in straight sets, striking a backhand down the line to surge into a fourth straight Australian Open third round.

Undoubtedly aiming to claim the third leg of a Career Grand Slam, Swiatek will next face either qualifier Cristina Bucșa or 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who are unable to compete until the weather abates.

In the meantime, Swiatek will only get sharper in the hopes of bringing a storm of her own into championship weekend.