Despite receiving a bye, Inglis, whose usual competitions are a level below the WTA Tour, is improbable to experience any lack of match sharpness as she prepares to confront Swiatek.
Her schedule has involved singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, partnering with her fiancé Jason Kubler, accumulating a total of 16 hours and 12 minutes on the court across the last dozen days.
“When you step onto the court and truly desire victory, the limits of what you can achieve are astounding,” Inglis remarked.
In contrast, the second-seeded Swiatek has spent only slightly more than five hours competing, which is considered a demanding schedule for her.
The Polish player’s tournament opening has been inconsistent as she strives to achieve the career Grand Slam.
On Saturday, Swiatek narrowly defeated the 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya in a match marred by errors, and earlier, in her opening match against Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue, she struggled with her serve and accumulated 34 unforced errors.
Similarly, Inglis has also been compelled to fight hard to advance through the initial stages.
A significant portion, specifically four out of her five singles encounters, spanning both the qualifying and main draws, extended to three sets, and she has participated in six tie-breaks.
Her strong feelings became evident after she triumphed over Germany’s Laura Siegemund in a lengthy second-round contest, collapsing onto the ground weeping following over three hours on court.
“It’s been a considerable period since I last competed in the main draw of a Grand Slam event,” Inglis stated subsequent to her win.
“Participating in a Grand Slam in Melbourne, which is my preferred competition, with my family present and Jason by my side, makes sharing these victories with them incredibly profound and unique.
“I intend to fully savor this experience. Reaching the third round of a Grand Slam is not an everyday occurrence.”
Advancing to the fourth round is even less common, and making it to the quarter-finals would be akin to a dream come true.
