Iga Swiatek wins 13th consecutive match to reach Miami 4th round

World No.2 Iga Swiatek extended her career-best winning streak to 13 matches on Sunday night after defeating Madison Brengle 6-0, 6-3 to advance to her first Round of 16 at the Miami Open. The victory sets up a marquee Round of 16 showdown with American phenom Coco Gauff on Monday.

Playing her first match since confirming her rise to the No.1 ranking after Miami, Swiatek continued the sharp form that has seen her sweep the first two WTA 1000s of the season. Coming off her win in Indian Wells last week, Swiatek is trying to become the fourth woman to win the "Sunshine Double". If Swiatek were to win Indian Wells and Miami in the same season, she would join a list that includes Stefanie Graf (1994, 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005), and Victoria Azarenka (2016).

Swiatek raced through the opening set in 25 minutes. Having won the last seven games against Viktorija Golubic in the previous round, the 20-year-old Pole extended her winning streak of games to 14 before Brengle finally broke the run in the second game of the second set.

Swiatek fired 12 winners to Brengle's 1 in the opening set and finished the match with 25 winners to 4 for the American. Swiatek was broken once in the match, but dominated on her return, generating a total of 10 break points and breaking in 5 of 7 return games.

"I feel like I'm in a good place with my tennis and I'm focusing on that," Swiatek said when asked about the No.1 ranking. "I know the ranking can be pressure, but on the other hand when I was climbing up and I entered Top 10 and Top 5 I felt the same feeling, and right now I don't want to repeat that. So I just focus on my game.

"I don't know what's going to happen after the tournament and the adrenaline will go down and I have more time to stress about that a little bit more, but for now I feel great. It's not like it's bothering me, it's more motivating me. So it's great."

Swiatek will face Gauff for the second time in their careers and the first time on a hard court. Their only previous meeting came in Rome last spring. Swiatek won 7-6, 6-3 in the semifinals and would go on to win her first WTA 1000 title.

wtatennis.com

Make that 13 consecutive wins and 22 for the year for Iga. The most of any male or female tennis player in 2022.

 

Wow. 

Her next match might be the first real challenge for her in the tournament in Coco Gauff. 

It'll also be the first day match she plays in Miami. 

But if Iga continues the level she's at not even Gauff will be able to stop her. 

She certainly won't be intimidated with her power. 

I'm expecting a great match tomorrow. 

Jazda Iga!