MADRID — Iga Swiatek survived “one of many weirdest matches” after dropping the primary six video games and recovering to defeat Madison Keys 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 and keep on monitor to defend her title on the Madrid Open on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff additionally superior to the semifinals, beating teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight units.
Swiatek was overpowered by Keys early of their quarterfinal however discovered a technique to rally previous the fifth-ranked American on middle court docket.
“It was one of many weirdest matches I performed,” the second-ranked Swiatek mentioned. “Maddie was enjoying simply completely at the start, and I wasn’t actually proactive with something. I let Maddie do extra errors by simply placing the ball again, and the momentum modified.”
Swiatek mentioned it did not really feel good to drop a set 6-0, including that it was “bizarre.”
“At the very least it was quick, that is the one constructive suppose,” she mentioned. “I simply stayed in there. Clearly it wasn’t straightforward.”
It was the primary assembly between the 2 since Swiatek squandered a match level of their Australian Open semifinal that was received by Keys.
Swiatek is making an attempt to achieve her third straight Madrid ultimate. She beat Aryna Sabalenka final yr after dropping to her in 2023. Swiatek hasn’t gone previous the semifinals at any match since final yr’s French Open.
Sabalenka, the No. 1 participant on the earth, later faces Twenty fourth-seed Marta Kostyuk in her quarterfinal match.
Swiatek will subsequent face fourth-ranked Gauff, who obtained previous seventh-ranked Andreeva 7-5, 6-1.
The 21-year-old Gauff wanted simply 92 minutes to earn the win towards Andreeva, who turned 18 on Tuesday.
Each Gauff and Andreeva had been in a position to end their matches within the earlier spherical simply earlier than play was paused due to the main blackout that introduced Spain and Portugal to a standstill Monday. Greater than 20 matches needed to be postponed on the Caja Magica tennis complicated.
Matteo Arnaldi backed up his victory over Novak Djokovic within the second spherical of the lads’s draw by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 to achieve the quarterfinals of an ATP 1000 match for the second time.
Arnaldi now has three consecutive wins towards top-20 opponents for the primary time in his profession.