MELBOURNE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek continued her march towards an elusive Australian Open title with a third-round demolition of Emma Raducanu on Saturday.

The second seed produced a 6-1, 6-0 masterclass on Rod Laver Arena to storm into the last 16, where she will play Jaqueline Cristian or Eva Lys.

"I just enjoyed playing and felt really confident. I'm really happy," said Swiatek, who had 24 winners and just 12 unforced errors in one hour and 10 minutes.

The 23-year-old has shrugged off any fears that her doping saga would weigh her down after losing just 10 games so far in the tournament.

She's made an ominous warning to opponents in Melbourne, where she had previously struggled by her lofty standards having only made it past the round of 16 once in her previous six appearances.

Swiatek was drawn in a potentially tricky match-up against high-profile Raducanu, who rose to stardom at the 2021 US Open when she became the first qualifier in the Open era to win a Grand Slam title.

The then 18-year-old Raducanu became an overnight sensation but failed to cope with the expectations and injuries mounted. She failed to make it out of the second round of majors until a stirring run at last year's Wimbledon saw her reach the last 16.

The No. 61 Raducanu had hopes of matching that effort in Melbourne but faced a mountain having not won a set in her previous three matches against Swiatek.

In sunny and warm conditions on center court, Swiatek was the aggressor as she won the first six points of the match and had an agitated Raducanu in distress at 15-40.

But Raducanu belatedly found her rhythm and held on but it was only a matter of time before she cracked. Swiatek broke with a dipping cross-court backhand winner to take a firm grip at 3-1.

The Pole's dominant serve, depth of stroke and complete lack of errors frazzled Raducanu, who netted a backhand return in a tame end to the first set.

Swiatek did not let up in set two as she continued to pound the corners, making an exhausted Raducanu stretch every sinew in vain. She crushed Raducanu's spirit after fashioning a break following a marathon opening game.

It was a formality from there with Swiatek romping to the finish line and she clenched her fist in steely celebration after Raducanu's return sailed wide. Enditem

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