Iga Swiatek, the defending Madrid Open winner, overcame a scare to advance to the third round in the Spanish city by defeating Alexandra Eala, a rising young star, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Iga Swiatek, the defending Madrid Open winner, overcame a scare on Thursday to advance to the third round in the Spanish capital by defeating Alexandra Eala, a rising young star, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. As the world number two faltered, the 19-year-old Filipina, who defeated Swiatek in straight sets during an unexpected run to the Miami Open semi-finals in March, took the opening set. Swiatek, who hasn’t been playing at her best this season, settled into a groove in the second set and easily defeated 72nd-ranked Eala in the third. Swiatek told Spanish network TVE, “I’m glad I was just patient because it wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing.”
“I always love playing here, for sure I’m proud of my performances in the last two years.”
In the first game, Eala broke Swiatek and saved two break points in each of her first two service games while producing two battling holds as the Pole tried to get back in.
In the Madrid sun, the dynamic Filipina broke Swiatek to love for a 5-2 lead after saving another break point in the sixth game.
Swiatek, a clay court expert, came back from a break, but Eala managed to extend her lead and win her third set point when the five-time Grand Slam champion hit a long backhand.
Against the tenacious Eala, who won both of her first-set break points, Swiatek only converted one of six.
In the opening game of the second set, the teenager broke once more, but this time, four-time French Open champion Swiatek was able to answer right away.
Swiatek returned to serve after Eala broke again for a 3-2 lead, and the Pole even the score in the latter part of the second set.
She secured breaks in the second and sixth games and stormed through the decisive set after breaking to love in the tenth game.
As Swiatek overcooked a backhand, Eala fought back and saved a match point, but the teenager went long and the defending champion eventually won.
There wasn’t just one adjustment that I needed to make because I felt like I was making too many mistakes overall,” Swiatek told reporters.
“For sure I wanted to keep my margins and play a little bit more safe, to just play more balls in because I was making some unforced errors that weren’t really necessary.”
In the third round, Swiatek will play Czech Linda Noskova.
In other matches, Latvian compatriot and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko was defeated by Anastasija Sevastova 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. Last week, Ostapenko defeated Swiatek in the quarterfinals in Stuttgart.
Madison Keys, the fifth-seeded Australian Open champion, defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3 to go to the third round, where she will play Anna Kalinskaya.
The fourth seed Coco Gauff defeated Dayana Yastremska by a slim margin, 0–6, 6-2, 7–5.
In the third set, Gauff led 5-4 and then gave up a break when serving for the set after squandering three match points.
Gauff broke for 6-5 as Yastremska failed to capitalize on her serve, and the 21-year-old won on her serve on the fourth try.
In the third round, the 2023 US Open champion will face fellow American Ann Li.
