- Defeated Australian qualifier to make quarters
World No.2 Iga Świątek walked off Rod Laver Arena with another convincing Australian Open win, but also with lingering frustration over a behind-the-scenes battle she could not win.
Świątek’s 6-0, 6-3 demolition of Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis sent her into the quarter-finals and kept her career Grand Slam dream alive.
The result did little to mask her growing dissatisfaction with the tournament’s scheduling after her request to move out of the night session was rejected.
The Polish star was again locked into a 7pm start on Rod Laver Arena, continuing a run of evening matches she had hoped to break as the tournament wore on.
Behind the scenes, that request sparked an unusually long and tense scheduling meeting involving tournament officials and host broadcaster Channel 9.
Former Australian Open champion Jim Courier revealed the extent of the standoff, describing a late-running meeting that dragged well beyond normal timelines.
World No.2 Iga Świątek celebrates her win over Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis at the Australian Open
Former Australian Open champion Jim Courier revealed that Swiatek had a confrontation with Channel 9 executives
Swiatek desperately wanted a day match but the host broadcaster wanted a prime-time night match with the Australian playing
While Inglis was not up to the class of Swiatek, she earned plenty of respect and a healthy payday
‘Yesterday’s scheduling meeting went exceptionally long; there was a massive battle because Świątek wanted a day match, and the Australian network desperately wanted an Australian to be playing in prime time,’ Courier said.
‘That’s what they pay the big money for.’
According to Courier, the discussions went to the wire before the broadcaster’s preference ultimately prevailed.
‘Eventually Channel 9 got what they wanted and what the tournament also wants, and Iga didn’t get what she wanted,’ he said.
‘Why she wanted to play in the day? I don’t know, because going forward from here, it’s going to be mostly night matches.’
The outcome was reflected in the delayed release of the Day 9 schedule, which did not drop until after 6pm on Sunday, well past the usual 3:15 to 3:30pm window, underlining how contentious the decision had become.
While top players are consulted on scheduling preferences, broadcasters wield significant influence at Grand Slams, particularly in Australia, where Channel 9’s rights deal is understood to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Prime-time slots remain the most valuable television real estate, especially when local players are involved.
Świątek stopped short of directly criticising the broadcaster, but her post-match comments made clear that the night-only scheduling was disrupting her routine.
‘I would only eat it after matches,’ she said when asked about a food ritual she had spoken about earlier in the tournament.
‘Since I’m only playing night matches suddenly, I have no time, honestly. Maybe tomorrow, but I don’t know what I’m going to do.’
Swiatek now turns her attention to a quarter-final clash with Elena Rybakina, continuing her pursuit of a first Australian Open title, even if it comes under lights she would rather avoid.
