World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has frequently had her hands full with Linda Noskova in their rivalry, but in their latest clash, at the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday evening, Swiatek saw things go mostly her own way.
Defending champion Swiatek of Poland defeated No. 31 seed Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 to win her eighth straight Madrid match and clinch a spot in this fortnight's Round of 16. Swiatek, also a Madrid finalist in 2023, is 15-2 lifetime at the tournament.
"I’m happy with my focus and my attitude today," Swiatek said on court, after her win. "It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but I’m happy I just kept calm, even when Linda broke me. It was a good match for sure."
Rip-roaring rivalry: Swiatek's first two rounds in Madrid have been against rising youngsters who have troubled her of late. After her opening-round bye this week, Swiatek had to come back from a set down to oust Alexandra Eala, the 19-year-old Filipina who knocked her out of last month's Miami Open.
Her reward was another meeting with 20-year-old Noskova, who had already taken Swiatek out of the 2024 Australian Open en route to the Czech's first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Swiatek had won all three of their WTA main-draw meetings since then, but that fact requires more context. In their last two meetings at WTA events, at 2024 Miami and 2025 Doha, Swiatek needed to squeak through a pair of two-and-a-half-hour battles to best Noskova. Those gripping matches were both decided by 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 scorelines in Swiatek's favor.
The potential difference-maker in Madrid? This was their first meeting off of hard court. Swiatek wins nearly 90 percent of her matches when she plays a WTA 1000 main draw on clay (35-4 after today). Noskova kept the first set close until the last moment, but Swiatek won more of the decisive points to tip things her way and ease to victory.
"Every match that [Noskova and I] played was really with high intensity, and really good quality," Swiatek said. "I knew it’s going to be a challenge, but I just kept being focused on myself. And we kind of know each other’s game. ... I’m happy that I was more solid at the end."
Match moments: On Saturday, Noskova deployed the powerful groundstrokes that have bothered Swiatek throughout their head-to-head. Even when Swiatek found deep returns to break for 4-3, the Pole still had to stave off a break point in the next game before consolidating.
At 5-4, Swiatek battled back from 0-30 down to pick up set points, but Noskova ripped backhand winners on the defending champion’s first two opportunities. However, Swiatek forced an error from the Czech to convert her third set point and clinch the hard-fought one-set lead.
Once Swiatek broke Noskova in the opening game of the second set, Saturday’s test became far more routine than the pair of marathons that preceded it in their rivalry. Swiatek was unfazed the rest of the way and closed out the win after 1 hour and 17 minutes, holding a perfect 4-for-4 break point conversion rate in the match.
Another rising player awaits: In the Round of 16, Swiatek will face No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider, who has barely lost games this week. After her first-round bye, Shnaider beat Katie Volynets 6-1, 6-2, then dispatched Anastasija Sevastova 6-0, 6-0.
This will be Swiatek's first career meeting against 21-year-old left-hander Shnaider.
I love it when I'm right :).
A much more assured, clean performance from Iga today.
It was honestly so good to see.
It's been a while (maybe start of the season) since I last saw Iga truly happy with her own performance. And I definitely saw it at the end of the match when she looked towards her camp.
She stayed calm throughout and just worked the point using her athletic ability and speed to her advantage effectively (as only she can)
It reminded me exactly why I love watching her play on this surface.
I've said this before, but I trust Iga on clay more than any other, this match was the perfect example of why as well.
Feels like she found her rhythm and unlocked some much needed confidence and trust in her game with this win.
With that confidence and trust everything else worked, her serve helped get her free points when needed in pressure moments, and her forehand and shots were all going in with minimal errors.
Point by point she got better as the match went on.
Next up for Iga will be another first meeting with someone younger than her Diana Schnaider.
These match up are always tricky, because neither player knows what to expect.
It's exciting for the viewers, and for Iga fans equally as nerve wrecking.
It'll be intriguing to see how their games match up, especially on Iga's best surface.
My hope is that Iga's experience will once again help get her through.
Jazda Iga!.
One point and one match at a time you're getting there. Keep believing.
Opta ace stats
15 - Iga Swiatek has registered 15 wins in Women’s Singles at the Madrid Open from 17 matches, equalling Serena Williams for the fewest matches to 15 wins at this event since the inception of the tournament. Triumph.Iga Swiatek's career record in the big clay events
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