Life, as they say, comes at you fast. When Grand Slam dreams become reality as a teenager, it makes for an even wilder journey.
Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu both emerged suddenly and emphatically during the strange times that were the Covid years – the Pole a Roland Garros champion as a 19-year-old world No.54 in 2020, the Briton a US Open winner as an 18-year-old qualifier only a year later.
Their careers since have taken drastically different trajectories.
Swiatek has held three further trophies on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier and another at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and has risen to become the pre-eminent force atop the rankings for most of the time since Ash Barty’s retirement.
Raducanu has struggled more with a list of injuries and a mountain of expectations, and has a lone fourth-round showing at Wimbledon from her Slam outings since her shock breakthrough.
In an Australian Open third-round blockbuster at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, world No.61 Raducanu looks to improve her record against the world No.2 to 1-3, having fallen to Swiatek twice on clay in Stuttgart and once on hard court in Indian Wells.
MORE: AO 2025 women's singles draw
“She's been really consistent over the last quite a few years. So, I mean, it's going to be a match for me where I feel like I don't really have much expectation externally,” Raducanu said. “I think you always have the pressure that you put on yourself to perform to your best ability, which is not really going to change, but that's every match.
“Of course I've seen her win a lot, but I also know that we've had very different paths. I know that she was playing since a very young age, and my hours in comparison were probably a bit comical when I was 17, 18 playing six hours a week. I don't think it was the same trajectory.”
Swiatek had empathy for her fellow former teen sensation, and admitted many underestimated the breadth of challenges that followed after a Grand Slam title at such a young age.
“For sure it's hard. I think, even sometimes when I lose some matches, I realise that people just expect me to win because I won so much earlier, you know, that they got used to it,” she said.
“But no, this is constant work and taking care of many things also off the court and having good people around you, managing your whole life basically so you can play good and consistently.
“For sure we have different stories, but before the match, I'm not going to really think about that. I'll just prepare based on how she plays now, and that's it.”
Australia’s leading light Alex de Minaur continues his pursuit of a fourth straight second-week showing at Melbourne Park when he meets Argentine 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo for the first time in the second match at Rod Laver Arena.
Though the eighth seed has not reached the same Grand Slam heights as Swiatek or Raducanu yet, he understands some of the added responsibility that comes with being his nation’s leading contender, particularly at his home major.
MORE: AO 2025 men's singles draw
“It's really about planning. It's about having a healthy balance,” De Minaur said. “I've got a great team around me that helps me in every kind of step of the way.
“As you win more matches, there's going to be more media attention. But for me, nothing can change who I am as a person and what I need to do on the court, right?”
Men’s top seed Jannik Sinner has been an exemplar for handling off-court distractions and vast expectations as the runaway world No.1 since his Australian Open breakthrough last year.
The Italian went from strength to strength in 2024, particularly on hard courts on which seven of his further eight titles ensued, including the US Open and ATP Finals.
On Saturday, the reigning champion meets American world No.46 Marcos Giron, a player he beat en route to the Shanghai Masters trophy last season.
Sinner hailed playing in front of an Australian Open crowd after his four-set win over wildcard Tristan Schoolkate, part of a one-day attendance record on Thursday.
“I feel like it's great for tennis, no? I think the goal should be to make tennis as big as possible,” Sinner said. “Here the fans are very passionate … It's nice to see the players who have the home crowd with them. It's nice because it's also right that we are in Australia.”
Women’s 10th seed Danielle Collins had a somewhat different take on facing a home-crowd favourite after she ended the inspired run of Destanee Aiava at a raucous Kia Arena.
The AO 2022 finalist, who has backflipped on retirement, returns to Rod Laver Arena for the first time since a harrowing defeat to Swiatek in the second round last year when she meets countrywoman Madison Keys.
Adelaide champion Keys, the 19th seed, won her seventh straight match to set the clash against an opponent she beat for the Strasbourg title last season.