Emma Raducanu insisted that she is still improving despite suffering a chastening 6-1, 6-0 towelling at the hands of world No2 Iga Swiatek.

We might have expected Raducanu to look crestfallen in the interview room after such a one-sided defeat, but in fact she was calm and composed, explaining that she would use this result as “feedback” to guide her training programme.

The contest itself was an absolute thumping, a 6-1, 6-0 mismatch which displayed Swiatek at her absolute best. Raducanu managed to hold her first service game of the match, after fighting back from 15-40, and probably thought she could build on that gritty start. Instead, the onslaught just grew more intense and she lost the next 11 games.

She is hardly the first player to get bundled out of a major by Swiatek, who has handed out 6-0 “bagel” sets on an astonishing 83 different occasions on the tour, including 26 at the slams.

“I feel like I’m speaking from a pretty rational place,” said Raducanu, who had never previously faced anyone ranked above No7 at the majors. “I’m not necessarily too emotional either way. Me... I think I’ll just get back to it pretty quickly.”

Raducanu was a victim of tennis’s cruel scoring system as she won 29 points, yet only got scoreboard credit for the six that earned her that hard-won service hold at the very first attempt.

“The scoreline was obviously quite harsh,” she said. “I feel like I look back and know exactly what I need to do, and I take it as feedback. I’m very clear on what happened out there. The scoreline reflects one thing: if I’m not necessarily able to hold my service games or dictate, it seeps into the rest of my game.

“On my second serves, and also in the return games, you feel a lot more pressure. The groundstroke aspects of my game are actually probably better now [than when Raducanu lost 7-6, 6-3 in Stuttgart in April]. I just don’t think I was able to be in that situation too often today where we were [playing] from the back on level terms. I’d say I’m definitely improving. It’s just one big factor [namely, the serve] was probably not as good.”

Earlier, Swiatek had told reporters that “This match was kind of perfect for me. I felt like the ball is listening to me. Last year was the toughest Australian Open I ever had. I remember I was just tight, didn’t move well. [This year] I feel less stress. It’s helping, for sure.”

Swiatek is so famous for humiliating opponents when she gets on top of them that someone built a social-media account called “Iga’s Bakery”. The point being that 6-0 sets in tennis are known as bagels and 6-1 sets as breadsticks.

“No mercy!” yelled one fan as Raducanu tried to score a rare hold at 0-4 down in the second set. And indeed there was none. Swiatek is unusual in her ability to maintain the highest possible intensity even when the game is already in her pocket, and she was still greeting every winner with a fist-pump and a “Come on” as she ground Raducanu into the blue acrylic surface.

Asked if she had expected such a dominant scoreline, Swiatek replied “I felt like she might have lost her belief a bit. But honestly, you never know what’s going on on the other side of the net.

“If I would not be so intense, if I would back out, she for sure would use it because she’s an experienced player. I just focused on myself. I didn’t want to change anything.”

Raducanu is in good company as a Swiatek bagelee. Rebecca Sramkova, the Slovakian who effectively knocked Great Britain out of November’s Billie King Cup, had gone down by a 6-0, 6-2 scoreline in the previous round. But this was still a tough way for Raducanu to end an otherwise creditable run at this event, and she left the court as fast as was humanly possible.

It was Raducanu’s equal-worst scoreline on the tour, matching her loss to Elena Rybakina in Sydney three years ago. Ironically, she had defeated Swiatek by a 6-0, 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon junior event in 2018, but a lot has changed since then.

Despite this setback, Raducanu had outperformed her ranking by taking down 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and the dangerous Amanda Anisimova in the previous two rounds. Asked to sum up her tournament as a whole, she focused on the upsides.

“The biggest positive I would say is how I’ve approached every single day. I think before the tournament, in tricky situations with Auckland [a build-up event she had pulled out of at the last minute] and the back [which had gone into spasm in December], I handled myself [well] going into the tournament not necessarily the most prepared.

“Then I’d say even how I kind of handled the match today, it’s quite different and I have to be proud of myself and give myself a pat on the back.

“I think one of my goals for this year is to just be consistent, ride with it. I think today is going to be a really good test in a sense, but also I’m going to look back and be like, ‘I learned a lot from it’.

“I think the thing I want to improve is serving. The first two matches I got away with it against two top players because I was able to defend and move, use the rest of my game. But I think that needs to improve.”

02:12 AM GMT

Heading home

02:11 AM GMT

Iga Swiatek’s winning moment

02:09 AM GMT

Up next

Iga Swiatek is into the fourth round and will play the winner of the match currently ongoing between Germany’s Eva Lys and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.

02:07 AM GMT

Match summary

Iga Swiatek wins 6-1, 6-0:

First serve: Swiatek 69%-58% Raducanu

First serve points won: 83%-55%

Second serve points won: 73%-23%

Winners: 24-9

Unforced errors: 12-22

Break points won: 5/12-0/0

02:04 AM GMT

The thoughts of Iga Swiatek

01:56 AM GMT

Swiatek thrashes Raducanu 6-1, 6-0

Swiatek is serving for the match. Surprisingly, against the run of the match, Raducanu goes 0-30 up on Swiatek’s serve. Swiatek brings it back though to 30-30.

A terrific forehand down the line from Swiatek gives the Pole match point.

There it is! Swiatek seals it and is through with ease into the fourth round. A horrible way for Raducanu’s Australian Open campaign to end. The match lasted just 70 minutes!

01:50 AM GMT

Swiatek 6-1, 5-0 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

Swiatek is just playing with Raducanu at the moment. The Briton goes 30-0 up on serve but the Pole hits back with the next two points.

Raducanu looks certain to go 40-30 up but her volley hits the net after Swiatek was under big pressure.

Swiatek now has another break point but Raducanu saves it.

A terrific backhand down the line gives Raducanu advantage but Swiatek responds with an impressive backhand of her own to take it back to deuce.

Swiatek swings another great forehand across the court and she now has another break point. A double fault presents Swiatek the game and the end is nigh.

01:44 AM GMT

Swiatek* 6-1, 4-0 Raducanu (*denotes server)

That probably sums up Raducanu’s day. A loopy shot gives Raducanu a great chance to dispatch the point but inexplicably hits into the tram lines with the point waiting for her. Raducanu is not looking entirely comfortable, perhaps the back problem is causing her some issues. Swiatek meanwhile looks like she means business.

A superb forehand down the line gives Swiatek a 40-0 lead and currently Raducanu has no answer.

Despite a double fault, a terrific backhand down the line seals the game for the Pole and Swiatek is just two games away from victory.

01:39 AM GMT

Swiatek 6-1, 3-0 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

Not the time that Raducanu needs a double fault. Not that there is ever a good time but when you are one set and two games down it really is a bad time.

Swiatek then executes a backhand return down the line to move 0-30 up. Despite winning the next point, she then goes long and Swiatek has two break points.

Raducanu saves the first with the aid of the net but she cannot save the second as she goes long.

01:35 AM GMT

Swiatek* 6-1, 2-0 Raducanu (*denotes server)

A rare blemish from Swiatek today, who registers a double fault. Raducanu then looks like she could move to 15-40 up but a backhand from Swiatek allows her to move to 30-30.

Swiatek wins the next point as Raducanu goes long and Swiatek is 40-30 up. A fantastic forehand from Swiatek wins her the game and she is now 2-0 up in this second set. All going the Pole’s way here.

01:30 AM GMT

Swiatek 6-1, 1-0 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

What can Raducanu do at the start of this second set to change the momentum? Raducanu is having issues with her serve, having received numerous foot faults already, and now she double faults. She looks like she has lost confidence and does not have much self-belief at the moment. Some of that will be down to the quality of Swiatek’s performance.

A terrific forehand cross-court gives Swiatek two break points. She is unable to take the first after a strong forehand down the line by Raducanu and the Briton wins the next point as well to take us to deuce and save two break points.

An ace from Raducanu gives her advantage but she cannot take it. She gets another advantage but again cannot take it.

Raducanu takes a third advantage but once more cannot capitalise.

This time Swiatek gets the advantage with a superb forehand down the line and she can take her third break-point attempt of the game.

01:17 AM GMT

Swiatek eases to first set 6-1

Despite her first double fault of the match, Swiatek moves to 40-15 courtesy of an ace and has two set points.

She takes the first one and, in just over half an hour, takes the first set 6-1. Problems for Raducanu.

01:14 AM GMT

Swiatek 5-1 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

That is more like it from Raducanu. A forehand down the line gives Swiatek no chance of a return.

Swiatek though does exactly the same a few points later and it is 30-30.

Swiatek then hits the net and Raducanu absolutely needs to finish off this game but we go to deuce.

Raducanu then makes an unforced error into the net and Swiatek has a break point, which she takes. The number two seed is just one game away from the first set.

01:08 AM GMT

Swiatek* 4-1 Raducanu (*denotes server)

Swiatek is well on top here and races to 40-0 up on serve. She completes the game with ease and is now 4-1 up in this first set. Raducanu desperately needs to wrestle back some momentum.

01:05 AM GMT

Swiatek 3-1 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

Swiatek is putting some early pressure on the Raducanu serve. She could not take two break points in Raducanu’s previous service game but she races to 0-40 up in this one.

Three break points rather than two this time. The first one goes by as Swiatek goes long but she takes the second with a terrific backhand cross-court. First break of the match.

01:01 AM GMT

Swiatek* 2-1 Raducanu (*denotes server)

Raducanu is able to win one game on Swiatek’s serve but the Pole holds serve with relative ease. We remain on serve.

12:56 AM GMT

Swiatek 1-1 Raducanu* (*denotes server)

Swiatek immediately puts Raducanu’s serve under pressure as an impressive return of the second serve gives Swiatek a 0-15 lead.

Swiatek wins the next point but a terrific forehand from Raducanu earns her first point of the match.

However Swiatek now has two break points. She cannot take the first and is unable to take the second either so move to deuce.

Raducanu has an advantage but a double fault allows Swiatek to bring it back to deuce. Raducanu had issues with double faults in her first round match, registering well into double figures.

We are treated to a superb rally, which Raducanu comes out on top of. This time Raducanu can take the advantage and gets registers her first game of the match.

12:48 AM GMT

Swiatek* 1-0 Raducanu (*denotes server)

Before we even get going, Swiatek has been given a time violation, which she is not entirely impressed by. She has the honour of the serve at the start of this match.

The first point of the match is won by Swiatek as Raducanu goes way long. Swiatek then races through the rest of her first service game and takes the first game. She did not allow that time violation to get in her head.

12:41 AM GMT

Ready for action

Warm-ups done, now it is time for action.

Who will book their place in the fourth round?

Enjoy!

12:36 AM GMT

Out onto the Rod Laver Arena

Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek are welcomed out onto the court. The sun is out and it is already warm in Melbourne.

Time for some warm-ups before we get going.

12:32 AM GMT

Gearing up

12:29 AM GMT

Who will win?

Remember you can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.

12:25 AM GMT

The data that proves Raducanu is a world beater

To read more from Simon Briggs, click here.

12:17 AM GMT

Raducanu: My love of adrenalin helps me win big moments

For more from Simon Briggs and Sonia Twigg, click here.

12:09 AM GMT

Order of play

From the full draw to the prize money to the order of play, we have you covered right here.

12:00 AM GMT

Raducanu: Murray and I have made up – ‘I just hope he does not hate me too much’

Simon Briggs has the full story.

11:52 PM GMT

Briton watch

Jack Draper won a five-set thriller, beating Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (10-8). Draper will take on Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round on Sunday.

Jacob Fearnley is out however after defeat to German Alexander Zverev in straight sets.

Raducanu is therefore one of just two Britons left in the singles draw.

11:46 PM GMT

Iga Swiatek on winning young

11:40 PM GMT

Emma Raducanu on Iga Swiatek

11:33 PM GMT

Match preview

Emma Raducanu’s Australian Open journey continues against second seed and five-time major champion Iga Swiatek, who sits 59 places above Raducanu in the world rankings, at the Rod Laver Arena. Raducanu beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2) in the first round before beating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in round three and a meeting against Swiatek. This is the first time Raducanu has reached the last-32 in Melbourne and she is looking forward to this contest, believing there is not much pressure on her facing a high-quality opponent.

“I am loving it. It is another opportunity to test my game,” Raducanu said. “I think obviously she [Iga Swiatek] has achieved so much already and I think going into it, I have nothing to lose. I am just going to swing. I am going to give it my best and I cannot wait to play in front of the fans.

“She is a top player, she has been really consistent over the last quite a few years. So it is going to be a match for me where I feel like I do not really have much expectation externally.

“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. I am looking forward to going out there and testing my game against the best, because, ultimately, you play tennis and you live for these matches. It is going to be a great buzz of adrenaline.”

The Polish star overcame Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4 in round one and then beat Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2 in the second round. Despite being a five-time major winner, Swiatek has only managed to get past the fourth round at the Australian Open once before when she reached the semi-finals three years ago.

These two have met three times before, with Swiatek coming out victorious on all three occasions without dropping a set. They first met in Stuttgart in 2022, with Swiatek winning 6-4, 6-4. They then met at Indian Wells in 2023 as Swiatek won 6-3, 6-1. Swiatek was also victorious in Stuttgart again last year, taking the match 7-6, 6-3.

Action from the Rod Laver Arena is set to get under way at around 12.30am UK time.