Over the past few years, the sight of Iga Swiatek annihilating another poor, defenceless opponent has become as sure as the sun will rise. When her game is flowing and her mind is clear, the combined quality of her violent ball-striking, athleticism and unrelenting focus is so great that, at some point or another, she has rendered nearly all of the best players spectators in their own matches.
It was Emma Raducanu’s turn to endure the unpleasant experience of entering the Swiatek bakery on Saturday. She cut a lonely, solemn figure on the Rod Laver Arena, one of the biggest tennis stadiums in the world, in the face of a supreme Swiatek, who ploughed her way into the fourth round by winning the final 11 games in a ruthless 6-1, 6-0 win.
