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Iga Swiatek could all but hear the boarding announcement for the flight home.

The world No.1 was in such a bind on Thursday at Rod Laver Arena that she looked done and dusted, bound for the departure lounge at Tullamarine Airport.

MORE: Day 7 schedule of play

Her AO 2022 conqueror, Danielle Collins, was poised to do it again before the Pole somehow found a way back.

BONUS: Download your copy of the Australian Open 2024 Official Program

No boarding passes were imminently required, but on a day when her AO 2023 vanquisher, third seed Elena Rybakina, crashed out in a night-time thriller on the same side of the draw, second-week showings were seemingly far from a formality for the favourites.

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Swiatek was stretched to her limits before beating Collins
“I think it was even like the toughest one I ever had, maybe even more than when I was unseeded a couple of years back,” the 22-year-old admitted her the draw after she faced AO 2020 champion Sofia Kenin and Collins, the AO 2022 finalist, in succession.

MORE: AO 2024 women's singles draw

On Saturday, Swiatek meets gifted Czech Linda Noskova for a place in the Australian Open fourth round, a rising star whom she beat en route to the trophy on home soil in Warsaw last year.

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The 19-year-old Noskova clearly thrives on Australian hardcourts. In 2023, as a qualifier, she reached her maiden tour final in Adelaide, beating second seed Ons Jabeur and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka en route. A fortnight ago, she reached the semifinals in Brisbane.

Such is the strength in Czech tennis, the world No.50 is only eighth-best among her compatriots.

As one of only three teenagers in the top 50, however, she has Swiatek on alert.

Iga Swiatek v Danielle Collins Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
Iga Swiatek v Danielle Collins Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
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“I'm ready for every match kind of to be intense. Obviously sometimes it's more intense with players that are having different styles, but she's also playing really good and really fast. I'll be ready,” Swiatek said.

“I don't mind actually that it was intense [against Collins] because I remember also when I started the tournament with some easy matches, then I felt I was a little bit rusty when the tough moments came.

“I think it was even like the toughest one I ever had, maybe even more than when I was unseeded a couple of years back."
Iga Swiatek on her AO 2024 draw
“Honestly, every Grand Slam, the path can look really differently. But at the end I came to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter. You just have to be ready.

“I mean, at the US Open in 2022, I also had trouble … [fourth] round against Yulia [Jule Niemeier]. I guess it doesn't really matter.”

Men’s second seed Carlos Alcaraz did not have it all his own way either at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, but found more than enough in the tank to force his way past Italian Lorenzo Sonego in four sets.

Lorenzo Sonego v Carlos Alcaraz Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
Lorenzo Sonego v Carlos Alcaraz Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
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Rarely is the 20-year-old dual major champion pitted against a challenger his junior, but Jerry Shang is about to change that.

MORE: AO 2024 men's singles draw

The 140th-ranked left-hander last year became the first man from China to reach the second round at the Australian Open.

MORE: "Very excited" Shang flying to more firsts in Melbourne

On Thursday, the 18-year-old broke new territory against India’s Sumit Nagal to reach the last 32 and secure the Alcaraz showdown.

Sumit Nagal v Juncheng Shang Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
Sumit Nagal v Juncheng Shang Highlights | Australian Open 2024 Second Round
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“Very easy, right?” he grinned. “He's one of the best players on tour. I've watched him the whole year. Basically in 2023 he's had amazing runs, amazing matches in the Grand Slams.

“For me, again, low expectations. I expect nothing but a really nice crowd.”

While Shang expects to have his work cut out, China is at least guaranteed a second-week showing when 12th seed Zheng Qinwen and Wang Yafan do battle.

Zheng enjoyed a particularly strong finish to last season at home where she snared Asian Games gold and a title in Zhengzhou, while she also reached a final in Zhuhai to end the year in the top 15 and earn the WTA Most Improved Player gong.


Zheng has picked up where she left off late in 2023
The 94th-ranked Wang ended Emma Raducanu’s return to pass the second round at a major for the first time.

MORE: Wang ends Raducanu's run to set up all-Chinese third round

Two-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev’s late-night escape from two sets down against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round improved his five-set record at Melbourne Park to 3-2.

MORE: Medvedev's five-set survival concludes epic day at AO 2024

His most dramatic of those triumphs that went the distance came in a match-point saving triumph over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the AO 2022 quarterfinals.


The third seed again meets the Canadian on Saturday where he bids to extend his flawless 6-0 record against the 27th seed on Margaret Court Arena.

In a battle of Grand Slam champions, two-time AO winner and 18th seed Azarenka looks to reach the second week at Melbourne Park for the 10th time when she squares off against Roland Garros 2017 winner, 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko added her seventh career trophy in Adelaide last week, but 34-year-old Azarenka narrowly claimed the honours between the pair in a tense three-set Brisbane quarterfinal.