Iga Swiatek battles past Keys to get back to Madrid semis

 

MADRID -- Iga Swiatek has been far from her invincible self at the Mutua Madrid Open. As she progressed to the quarterfinals here, she uncharacteristically dropped sets to younger players Alexandra Eala and Diana Shnaider.

And then came Wednesday’s shocker. Swiatek is an accomplished baker -- her bagels are world-renowned -- but No. 5 seed Madison Keys took the first set, 6-0, in a scant 24 minutes.



Swiatek, however, is a four-time Roland Garros champion for a number of significant reasons. The World No. 2 wins nearly 90 percent of her matches on clay and on Wednesday, those instincts kicked in on the way to a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

“Honestly, it was one of the weirdest matches I’ve ever played,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview. “I didn’t feel like [the first set] was that bad. I felt the ball well -- it just went super long.

“I tried to play a bit shorter, and with some mistakes by Maddy, the momentum changed in the end. I’m happy that I did it.”

Coco next up: The triumph sent Swiatek into Thursday’s semifinals against No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, who reeled off nine of the last 10 games in her quarterfinal victory over No. 7 seed Mirra Andreeva.

Swiatek is 11-3 lifetime against Gauff, but Gauff has won their last two meetings, including this year at United Cup. However, Gauff is yet to beat Swiatek on clay.

Stat corner: The unforced errors were the story of the match: 35 for Keys, 25 for Swiatek.

Swiatek now leads the head-to-head 5-2 -- and she’s 4-0 on clay against Keys.

This is Swiatek’s 20th semifinal in 36 WTA 1000 appearances. She’s only the third player to win her first six completed clay-court quarterfinals in those elite events, joining Serena Williams and Simona Halep.

The last time they played, Keys took down World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She went on to win her first Grand Slam singles title, beating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

But that was on a hard court. Clay changes the dynamic dramatically.

Match moments: Defending champion Swiatek was looking to reach three consecutive semifinals in Madrid, something previously achieved only by Maria Sharapova.

But when Swiatek dropped the first set without winning a game, it was the first time that happened to the Polish player in nearly four years -- against Daria Kasatkina on the grass in 2021 Eastbourne. That’s a staggering stretch of 625 completed sets without a shutout. Swiatek committed 10 unforced errors, won 29 percent of her service points -- and a total of only nine points.

The second set was an almost complete reversal, with Swiatek looking much more comfortable. Keys, who had only two unforced errors in the first set, was charged with 15 in the second. Swiatek broke the American's serve twice, and she converted her second set point when a Keys forehand return found the net.

As the match progressed, Swiatek’s superior movement became more of a deciding factor. The first break of the third set occurred with Keys serving at 2-2: after saving two break points, Swiatek won a marvelous point with a lunging backhand volley followed by a Keys forehand into the net.

Attacking Keys’ backhand with regularity, Swiatek succeeded in opening up the court. Even when Keys got a decent look at a forehand, it often let her down. It was a backhand, though, that cost her a second service break, and Swiatek served for the match at 5-2. The Pole converted her second match point when a Keys forehand sailed out.

“[Keys] was serving great, and in every service game she got like two, three points by aces or some amazing serves,” Swiatek said, recalling the first set. “So when I didn't get them back I had no chance to win a point. Then, when I didn’t hold my serve, obviously, yeah, it became complicated.

“But that's why it's good that we have second sets to just change something up. And maybe, yeah, I feel like for sure I started serving better and that helped me."

wtatennis.com

Well, if I thought yesterday's match was strange it had nothing on this one. 

As Iga herself admitted it's the weirdest match she's played in her career (certainly on clay). 

Iga got bageled for the first time in 6 years on her favourite surface.

 I wish I could say it was because Madison Keys was playing lights out tennis, but it was more Iga unable to find the court and instead committing error after error in key moments of the games. 

Even Madison Keys was surprised by how easily she won it. 

So surprised in fact that I think in the 2nd set she expected to win it on Iga's errors alone. But when Iga cut out her errors and started putting balls in court it was Keys who was suddenly error prone. 

A pretty match this was not. 

Iga did eventually do what I previously mentioned yesterday and that's move Keys around and use her spin. As soon as she did that the match turned around. 

I'm still not quite sure what happened in that first set, whether it was Iga still thinking about the Aussie Open  semi final earlier this year and just feeling paralyzed and unable to play her game. 

But in the 2nd set she finally seemed to remember  that this was clay and Keys has never actually won a match against her on it (Keys did help things along with her own errors but still). 

So that's another ugly win in the books. And a 3rd consecutive 3 setter for Iga on clay in the same tournament (wondering if that's ever actually happed for Iga seems like a first). 

Sometimes in this sport it's not how you start but how you finish and in the end 

I'm proud of Iga for keeping it together despite having a bad day and turning things around in her favor. If winning after being bageled doesn't give her confidence I'm not sure what will. 

Gauff who managed to beat Andreeva is next for Iga.

Another opponent who beat Iga this year but who is yet to beat her on clay. 

If Iga can manage to beat Gauff tomorrow and finally reach a final in 2025 that'll really go a long way confidence wise and maybe help unlock some more familiar form.

Knowing that she can still win despite not having her top form could be huge for the rest of the clay season (and perhaps most importantly pre-Roland Garros).

I admit I haven't been watching Gauff's matches in Madrid at all because up until this tournament her form has been more horrendous than Iga's.

I'm mentally preparing myself for another strange meeting tomorrow. 

But staying positive and believing in one point and one match at the time.

Jazda Iga, things can only get better from here. Keep going. 

Iga Swiatek battles past Schnaider to make it 3 straight Madrid quarterfinals

A day after a nationwide power outage caused fourth-round action at the Mutua Madrid Open to be suspended, Iga Swiatek got normal service back on track to open Tuesday's rescheduled play -- but only after surviving a serious scare.


The No. 2 seed continued her title defense with a 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 defeat of No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider in 2 hours and 34 minutes. After enjoying a 22-minute first-set whitewash, Swiatek was forced to battle hard, saving 11 out of 13 break points over the course of the contest.

Swiatek has yet to lose before the quarterfinals in seven tournaments this year -- but she has also not gone past the semifinals since Roland Garros last year. In the last eight, she will face Australian Open champion and No. 5 seed Madison Keys, who defeated No. 19 seed Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3. It will be their first meeting since Swiatek fell to the American from match point up in the Australian Open semifinals; she still holds a 4-2 head-to-head lead, including 3-0 on clay (all in straight sets). Keys, who won just three matches across her first nine appearances in Madrid, has now made the last eight for a second year in a row.

Four-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek has now reached 17 consecutive clay-court quarterfinals, a streak that dates back to her third-round loss to Ashleigh Barty at Madrid 2021. It is the longest such streak since Martina Hingis made 19 clay-court quarterfinals in a row between Hilton Head 1997 and Hamburg 2002.

From smooth sailing to narrow escape: A much-anticipated first meeting between the pair did not initially deliver. Swiatek conceded just seven points in the first set as Shnaider, slow to settle, coughed up 13 unforced errors.

But despite the lopsided score, two stats were in the 20-year-old's favor. She came into the contest with a perfect 7-0 career record against Grand Slam champions -- and the last three times she had lost a set 6-0, she ended up winning the match anyway. Shnaider performed a hard reset at the start of the second set, winning the first barnburner of a point with a deft volley, and broke Swiatek for 2-0.

Shnaider held break points in all but one Swiatek service game in the second set -- 11 in total. While the Pole's error count increased sharply -- she committed 34 in the second set alone -- she played her best tennis with her back to the wall, and saved nine of those. But despite Shnaider's frustration at being pegged back repeatedly, she displayed real fortitude to shrug off the missed opportunities and keep hammering away with her swashbuckling left-handed forehand.

Both players had chances to take control of the decider. From 1-1, four straight games featured at least one break point. Only one was converted -- by Swiatek, who unleashed on a backhand return to move up 3-2. Another terrific backhand from the Pole fended off a break-back point in the subsequent game, and that lead proved decisive.

In Swiatek's words: "I think I moved better, and I spin the ball a little bit more," she said of her deciding-set play. "In second set it got pretty windy, and I didn't move my legs properly. I played some shots like not being ready, you know, so for sure that kind of kept my rhythm off. And then Diana also used her chances, and she was more proactive than in the first set. So I think it was a mix of different things."

For Swiatek, her clutch performance on break points was down to playing them like any other, rather than specifically raising her level.

"I treat every point the same way," she said. "I don't feel like I need to change anything on break points. I just trust that it's going to work. That mindset, I think, helps with tension a little bit."

This was a bit of a weird one, a bagel set from Iga followed by a lost tiebreaker to go to 3. 

First set I think Diana was adjusting to Iga's game and in the 2nd she settled down, took advantage of Iga's unforced errors and played more of hers.

 

3rd set was a bit more even. 

Iga did have an awful lot of breakpoints to defend (13 in total 2 of which Diana was able to take). 

Definitely another one of those matches where Iga won ugly. 

It wasn't the most high quality match over all very few winner between both. 

I'll chuck this up to it being their first meeting those are always tricky and a bit strange.

Maybe these types of matches is exactly what Iga needs to get her level and confidence back on her favourite surface. 

Not playing pretty but still believing and using your experience and skills to win anyway. 

And she did just that, stayed calm even when things weren't going her way.

Madison Keys next. 

Definitely a challenge given her confidence with winning Australian Open. But still a big chance for Iga to avenge that semi final loss in January.

If Madison serves well it'll definitely put a lot of pressure on Iga, but one thing Iga has always been able to do well on the red stuff is move Madison around, so I think as long as she does that and keeps it close score wise it'll go well. 

It is the one surface Madison has yet to beat her on all her other wins were on fast hard court surfaces on home turf.

Iga really hasn't had the easiest draw here (unlike Sabalenka) and will have to slay a lot of her demon's if she is to get back to the final. 

Keys and then possibly Andreeva in the semis the 2 women who have beaten her this year.

But we take it one point and one match at a time. 

Jazda Iga, you've got this!.

Opta Ace stats

78 - Including the BJK/Fed Cup, Iga Swiatek remains undefeated at WTA level in matches where she has claimed a 6-0 set, moving to a career win-loss record of 78-0. Unscathed.

72.2 - Since 1990, Iga Swiatek (72.2%, 83-32) trails only Steffi Graf (82.1%) and Serena Williams (75.3%) for winning percentage against WTA top 20 opponents – minimum 10 matches. Benchmark.

Iga Swiatek improves to 8 straight wins at Madrid Open

 

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.

wtatennis.com

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.

And one from social media

Iga Swiatek's career record in the big clay events 

Madrid: 15-2 (88.2%) 

Rome: 20-2 (90.9%) 

Roland Garros: 35-2 (94.6%) 

Overall: 70-6 (92.1%)

Iga Swiatek overcomes a rough start in Madrid opener

 

Defending champion Iga Swiatek avoided a second loss to Alexandra Eala in a WTA 1000 event in as many months with a three-set comeback at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday, coming from a set and a break down to top the teenager from the Philippines, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Swiatek lost in a surprising straight sets to Eala in the quarterfinals in Miami, and in Madrid, she looked on course for another stunner as she fell behind a set and a break, 6-4, 3-2. But this time, the World No. 2 steadied, and won five consecutive games from 4-4 in the second set before finishing off the comeback in 2 hours and 15 minutes.


Swiatek avoided her earliest loss at a WTA 1000 event in nearly four years, having last lost in the second round of a tournament of this magnitude at the 2021 Cincinnati Open. She has won 58 consecutive opening matches at Hologic WTA Tour events, including the United Cup and WTA Finals, dating back to a first round-robin loss to Maria Sakkari at the 2021 year-end championships.

"It wasn't easy to get into the rhythm and feel the right timing, so I'm happy that I was just patient," Swiatek said post-match.

Swiatek made 25 of her 57 unforced errors in the match in the first set, and ended the contest with 40 total winners. She cleaned up her serve -- she won 85% of points on her first serve after failing to crack 60% in either of the first two sets -- and return, too, eventually breaking Eala seven times on 16 opportunities.

Reflecting on the rematch afterwards, Eala confessed: "I’m happy with the match, happy with how I competed," she said. "Obviously up a set and a break is a good situation to be in, but you have to remember that there’s another person on the other side of the court. More so, a multiple Roland Garros champion. She did well also … Things to take back and to learn.

"What was different [between Madrid and Miami] was that, in my opinion, was that she executed better in the important moments, and she had a little higher level than me in specific moments of the match."

Bidding to reach her first final of the season, Swiatek will next face another opponent who has troubled her in the past: No. 31 seed Linda Noskova. Though Swiatek has won three straight meetings against Noskova since losing to her at last year's Australian Open, two of those matches have gone three sets. 

And if Swiatek wins that match, she may be breathing easier knowing that Jelena Ostapenko, against whom she is 0-6, lost against her fellow Latvian Anastasija Sevastova while Swiatek was in the midst of beating Eala.

wtatennis.com

It was a rough start to the Madrid defense for Iga. 

While young Eala played well Iga give her a lot of free points by constantly bashing and overpowering the ball. 

Just couldn't find her rhythm from the get go.

Can't remember the last time I've seen Iga make 57 unforced errors on clay. 

Once she remembered to be more patient and work the point instead of going for out right winners the match slowly turned around and it was Eala who started to feel the pressure. 

In the end it was really Iga's experience on clay that won her the match I think (coming back from a break down twice in the 2nd set). 

A lot of people were panicking online during and after this match, while I couldn't help but think that maybe Iga just had a tough time getting used to the different conditions going from indoor to outdoor in altitude. 

She kept changing her racquet and sending them off to the stringer unhappy with the tension 

So I think it was just getting used to the different conditions in a match setting more then anything else. 

Plus playing on a hot day vs practicing in cooler conditions would definitely change the trajectory of the ball as well. And thus it took her some getting used to.

Iga wasn't alone with her struggles either Gauff got bagelled in her first set before winning. So this gives me hope for Iga's next outing. 

Sometimes winning ugly like this can give you more confidence going forward because you've survived playing at your worst and have another opportunity to do better. 

I have a feeling that's exactly how Iga's next match will go. 

Of course she'll be playing the tricky Linda Noskova in their first meeting on clay, but if Iga stays calm and trusts her game and skills on this surface all will be well. 

Linda isn't as good on clay as she is on other surfaces so Iga can use that to her advantage.  

Playing at night which is sure to have slower conditions will also be an advantage for Iga giving her more time on the ball.

Jazda Iga, believe in yourself as your fans continue to believe in you.

You've got this!.

Stat of the season

Most consecutive tournaments without losing the opening match this century: 

55* - Iga Swiatek (Adelaide 2022-Madrid 2025) 

51 - Kim Clijsters (Montreal 2002-Hasselt 2005) 

The incredible streak is still alive!

Iga Swiatek suffers a first defeat on clay to Ostapenko in Stuttgart

 

What can I say about this matchup that hasn't been said already. She remains Iga's kryptonite.

Something about Iga's ball that Ostapenko absolutely loves. I swear, she sees Iga on her side of the draw brings out her best tennis and then wins nothing for weeks. 

6-0 H2H now, she's basically living in Iga's head rent free. 

I decided not to watch this match (didn't feel like torturing myself and going through a rollercoaster of emotions at 7 am on Easter weekend).

Having said that I was glad to see some fight back in this one, winning the 2nd set (a  final score line of 3/6 6/3 2/6) , it gives me hope for the outdoor (real) clay to come. 

Shows me that she's still more capable and comfortable finding solutions on clay then anywhere else. 

Hopefully the first serve will start working again too (so she can get more free points) because that was a weakness today. 

I can't help but wonder whether that's the Ostapenko effect too, she just tenses up more and can't serve more freely ends up with more doubles. 

Could very much be as simple as never actually being able to beat this one player on the entire WTA tour. 

I still believe once she does that H2H will turn around. 

It'd also help if they played more than once a year (this year being the exception of twice thus far).

There's going to be a lot of obvious pressure on Iga in the next month having won all the upcoming tournaments of Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros last year. 

Highly unlikely she'll be able to defend them all but I still have huge hopes for Rome and RG (even if she were to somehow have to face Ostapenko there too). 

Contrary to the opinions of people on social media, Stuttgart clay is different to Rome and Roland Garros the outdoor conditions make it so. It is less slippery and slower. 

And no I'm not using that as an excuse for this loss. 

I'm just stating facts that indoor conditions like this do favor someone like Ostapenko. 

Simple as that. 

And yes Jelena herself has stated she has won Roland Garros before (in 2017) which I swear she said in her post match just to rile up all of us Iga fans out there. 

But until Ostapenko shows consistency and wins Roland Garros more than once I'm still betting on Iga regardless of whether they play or not.

Iga Swiatek back in quarterfinals in Stuttgart

Iga Swiatek is winning again in Stuttgart.


After her first-round bye, World No. 2 Swiatek booked a spot in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 second-round victory over Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.

"I'm happy that I found a little bit of rhythm," Swiatek said afterwards. "I gave myself time to feel the court and everything. It felt great. I'm happy that I have another chance to play here."

The Pole has been the dominant force on clay during this decade and her Stuttgart performances are no exception. This is Swiatek's fourth appearance at this tournament and she has never failed to make the quarterfinals or better.

Here are more notable numbers surrounding Swiatek's latest clay-court win:

11: Swiatek is now 11-1 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. She won the title in her first two appearances at the event, beating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2022 and 2023 finals. Her only Stuttgart loss has been to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in last year's semifinals.

18: With her victory over 153rd-ranked Fett, former World No. 1 Swiatek has won her last 18 matches against players ranked outside the Top 150.

Her most recent loss to a player ranked below No. 150 came over four years ago. It was against another Croat, Ana Konjuh, who was ranked No. 338 when she beat Swiatek at 2021 Miami. (Alexandra Eala beat Swiatek at Miami this year while ranked No. 140.)

0: Swiatek zipped through the first set without facing a break point. Fett was also solid in that respect, saving six of the eight break points she faced in the opening frame, but she could not make inroads in Swiatek's service games.

1:16: In the second set, Fett made a bit of a move, earning her first service break in the opening game and leading 2-0. But that would be the extent of her surge as Swiatek won the following six games to close out the match in 1 hour and 16 minutes.


9: Fett was undone by double faults. She hit nine in the match -- including one to lose the first set, and another on Swiatek's second match point to finish the encounter.

81: By contrast, Swiatek was superb on her own delivery, dropping serve only once and winning 81 percent of her first-serve points.

0-4: Fett fell to 0-4 against Top 10 players in her career, but she has come close to a Top 10 win in the past, when she held two match points against No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the 2018 Australian Open. Wozniacki battled back to win that match -- and went on to win her first Grand Slam title at that very tournament.

0-5: In the quarterfinals, Swiatek will take on 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. Swiatek has never beaten Ostapenko in their five career meetings, including a loss this year in Doha.

 wtatennis.com