World No.1 Iga Swiatek's winning streak at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix extended to 10 matches on Friday as the two-time defending champion defeated former US Open champion Emma Raducanu 7-6(2), 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
For a spot in her third straight final in Stuttgart, Swiatek will face No.4 seed Elena Rybakina, who came from a break down in the third set to beat Dubai champion Jasmine Paolini in three sets earlier in the day.
Swiatek needed 2 hours and 3 minutes to dispatch the resurgent Brit, who was contesting her first quarterfinal since the autumn of 2022, and improve to 3-0 all-time in their historic head-to-head. But though Swiatek has never lost a set in those three matches, Wednesday's clay-court affair -- their second match in Stuttgart -- was the most competitive.
The first set was the story: For just the second time in 21 career sets played at the tournament, Swiatek was pushed to a tiebreak thanks to an inspired effort from the former US Open champion. The first set on its own lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes, and the first three games alone lasted more than 20 of those combined.
Raducanu was the first to break serve -- from 40-0 down, no less -- and although Swiatek broke her back immediately, the Brit served notice that she was ready to dig her heels in and compete in a seven-deuce opening service game.
After the first two games, only one more went to deuce -- and it was a crucial one. Raducanu saved the only other break point either woman faced in the first set in the sixth game -- when a second serve that was initially called out was overruled to in, and she was awarded the point.
But Swiatek's level raised in the tiebreak, where she won the first four points and five of the first six.
Swiatek speaks: After the match, Swiatek said that she was ready to navigate the challenge that Raducanu posed after the Brit's early hot start.
"She started playing at the beginning pretty loose, like she had nothing to lose, and I totally get that. Sometimes it is like that," the top seed said afterwards.
"But I knew I was kind of questioning if she's going to be able to keep the same intensity throughout the whole match. It wasn't about service games or return games. I was just the waiting for my chances to break back and I was sure that I'm going to get them."
Raducanu serves notice in defeat: Despite the loss, early returns for Raducanu have been positive in the clay-court season thus far. Her two wins for Great Britain in Billie Jean King Cup play against France, and two wins at the Porsche Arena over Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova, marked the first time she won four matches in a row since her life-changing US Open win out of qualifying three summers ago.
The former World No.10 came into the tournament ranked No.303, and her Stuttgart return was nonetheless a full circle moment: She missed the rest of the 2023 season following this tournament last year due to surgery on both wrists and her ankle. Raducanu is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 500 quarterfinal since Elena Rybakina, who was a wild card ranked No.450 at the 2018 St. Petersburg Ladies' Trophy.
I said this in yesterday's post and I'll say it again I have missed watching Iga Swiatek play on clay. Just a totally different beast in the way she fights and her confidence on it.
The shots she was making were superb. Feast for the eyes really. A great win over a player who's certainly gaining some momentum on clay.
The first set was extremely impressive from Raducanu, really made Iga raise her level (as she did in the tiebreak). Not many players can hang with Iga on clay the way Emma did. So hats off.
Next comes the match I have been simultaneously wanting and dreading ever since their last meeting on this surface in Rome last year (where Iga retired due to hip injury).
They did of course play on the hardcourts of Doha in February where Iga got the win. But I've been waiting for this rematch on clay.
I'm glad it's happening here in Stuttgart rather than Roland Garros. Even though I'm sure Iga will feel some pressure trying to go for the 3-peat at least it's a 500 tournament.
I have never wanted Iga to defeat an opponent more then I do Rybakina on clay. Just to prove that despite how good Rybakina's serve and her game is, and despite the trouble it sometimes causes Iga it's still no match on the clay. I want that so bad.
I know it's definitely not going to be easy, but I believe in Iga's problem solving skills and her patience on clay, and I really think as long as she stays calm she's going to get the win.
I'm anxious and excited for tomorrow.
Jazda Iga!.
Cool stats time:
The World No.1 becomes the second player this century to win 11 consecutive matches against former Grand Slam champions without dropping a single set. (Also S. Williams, Wimbledon 2010 - US Open 2012)
Iga is an absurd 132-3 record when winning the 1st set since 2022 Doha when her win streak began, 33-0 on this surface. Overall record in that time period is an absurd 151-20.
World No.1
@iga_swiatek becomes the third player in the Open Era to win their first 10 matches at the #PorscheTennis Grand Prix after Tracy Austin and Maria Sharapova
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