Iga Swiatek was briefly denied entry to Melbourne Park due to lacking her accreditation, echoing a past incident involving Roger Federer, before securing a straight-sets victory over Maddison Inglis. The world No. 2 advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-0, 6-3 win, despite frustrations over her night-only scheduling. She now faces Elena Rybakina in a rematch of a heated rivalry.
On January 26, 2026, Iga Swiatek experienced an unexpected delay at the Australian Open when security stopped her at the players' lobby entrance for not having her accreditation badge. Dressed in practice gear, the Polish star waited patiently for 1 minute and 56 seconds while a team member fetched the necessary ID. This moment recalled a similar 2019 incident at the same tournament involving Roger Federer, the six-time Australian Open champion, who calmly waited for his team before entering. Rules require all participants to carry their lanyards with badges at all times inside the arena.
Undeterred, Swiatek took the court later that evening on Rod Laver Arena for her fourth-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis. In a dominant 73-minute display, the No. 2 seed dismantled her opponent 6-0, 6-3, dropping just three games and silencing the home crowd. This marked Swiatek's 14th Grand Slam quarterfinal and her third at Melbourne Park, where she seeks her first title after semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2025.
Behind the scenes, Swiatek had pushed for a day match but was overruled in favor of a night slot. Former champion Jim Courier revealed the tension during scheduling discussions: "The Australian network desperately wanted to have an Australian playing in prime time... It was a long, drawn-out battle... Eventually, Channel 9 got what they wanted." WTA legend Lindsay Davenport added, "You can’t let the inmates run the asylum... Australian TV should win."
Post-match, Swiatek expressed uncertainty about her routine amid the night scheduling: "Since I’m only playing night matches suddenly, I have no time, honestly... I don’t know what I’m going to do." Her next challenge is a quarterfinal against No. 5 Elena Rybakina on January 28, where Swiatek leads their head-to-head 6-5 but lost their last meeting at the 2025 WTA Finals. With all top six seeds reaching the last eight—a rare feat not seen at the Australian Open since 1991—Swiatek's campaign highlights the depth of the 2026 draw.
The incident and victory underscore the blend of strict protocols and high-stakes competition at Grand Slams, as Swiatek navigates both logistical hurdles and elite opposition.
