Swiatek, Sinner advance; Djokovic wants ‘dancers’

MANILA, Philippines — Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu on Saturday to sweep into the Last 16 of the Australian Open as 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils stunned fourth seed Taylor Fritz.

Also on Day 7 in Melbourne, American qualifier Learner Tien, 19, won in straight sets to reach the second week and extend his fairytale run.

Ruthless defending champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner was in the zone with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 thrashing of American Marcos Giron.

In a one-sided battle of former US Open champions, Swiatek romped to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory as she pursues a first Melbourne crown.

Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, joined the Pole in the next round with a gritty three-set win over Ons Jabeur.

Sixth seed Elena Rybakina also advanced despite a back problem.

“I felt like the ball is listening to me,” said the 23-year-old Swiatek, a five-time major winner but has never gone beyond the semifinals at Melbourne Park.

She faces world number 128 German Eva Lys next.

Navarro credited her billionaire father for teaching her “toughness” as she clawed through 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 against three-time Slam finalist Jabeur.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan needed a medical timeout to treat a back spasm before winning 6-3, 6-4 against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.

Unseeded Monfils rolled back the years to storm back and defeat the American Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.

Elina Svitolina completed a family fairytale day when she emulated her husband Gael in knocking out No. 4 Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Tien, who is making his Australian Open debut, became the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he overcame injured Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3.

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, said tennis needs to be “more fun” and suggested dancers should be brought on court during breaks.

“Nice dancers, there for a few minutes more break so I can relax my nerves and think about something else,” he said.

Meanwhile, temperamental Russian Daniil Medvedev was fined $76,000 over his behavior at the Australian Open, where he destroyed a net camera, threw his racquet and skipped a post-match press conference.