Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 13, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek in action during her first round match against Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Iga Swiatek hopes the new blue headphones she received for Christmas will deliver the right tunes to keep her advancing in the Australian Open after she defeated first-time opponent Katerina Siniakova on Monday.
The 23-year-old said a blast of Australian rockers AC/DC had helped get her in the mood for her solid but unconvincing 6-3 6-4 win over Czech Siniakova in their first-round clash on John Cain Arena.
"Before matches, appropriate music makes me feel more energised and sometimes I hum it during the match," said the world number two, who served a short doping ban last year.
In her match against the 50th-ranked Siniakova, Swiatek struggled to find the deliberate rhythm that has helped her win five Grand Slam titles as her opponent, a doubles specialist, put up some stiff resistance.
"For sure it wasn't an easy first round so I'm happy I got through," said Swiatek, who will next play Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia.
"I felt like she was playing really well and I knew I needed to be more proactive when I wanted to and at the end in the second set I did that."
The reigning French Open champion, who is the only woman to reach the second round at every Grand Slam played since the start of the 2020 season, delivered when it was most needed.
She saved only one of the three break points she faced but was decisive with her heavy forehand at the most perilous moments in both sets.
She also looked good when it came to what she said were the most important statistics: the number of points she won after getting her first serve in. On Monday, it was 79%.
Her hesitant win was nonetheless popular with the many Polish fans who always provide her with strong support in Melbourne.
Swiatek thanked the fans on court before sending a message to those in Southern California who have been hit by devastating wildfires.
"Sending my love to Malibu and LA," Swiatek wrote on the courtside camera.
Swiatek could go back to the top of the world rankings if there are early exits for Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff at the tournament.
"It is important to me but during tournaments I don't think about it at all, it's not my goal, strictly speaking," she said.
"My goal will always be to improve on the court."
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
