Aryna Sabalenka, the runner-up from the previous year, defeated Marta Kostyuk 7-6(7/4), 7-6(9/7) on Wednesday to advance to the Madrid Open semi-finals for the fourth time, overcoming a tough Marta Kostyuk and an unexpected rain delay. In chilly, windy conditions, the top-seeded Sabalenka took the first set in 84 minutes before winning the match. To force a tiebreak in the second set, Kostyuk broke after saving a match point. It began to rain at 5-4 in the breaker, thus play was temporarily stopped to cover the Manolo Santana stadium’s roof.
When play resumed, Sabalenka managed to win the match by saving three set points, her third victory over her opponent in as many meetings.
“To be honest, the circumstances were quite difficult, and that was a battle. The Belarusian world number one, who made 48 unforced mistakes, stated that it wasn’t about tennis but rather how you managed your emotions.
“I think I did really well and I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.”
Next up for Sabalenka is another Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina, who defeated Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1 in just fifty-two minutes to increase her winning streak to eleven straight games.
Svitolina, who won in Rouen last week, is the first Ukrainian woman to go to the Madrid semifinals and is unbeaten on clay this season.
On the red dirt, the 30-year-old has won 22 straight sets.
Svitolina is on a remarkable run that will see her re-enter the top 15 in the rankings. She has a three-year-old daughter and is managing a foundation that has taken over the managerial and financial duties of the Ukrainian national tennis team.
The former world number three stated, “I have a lot on my plate, but I draw energy and motivation from my people.”
I receive a lot of energy from all the people who are currently struggling in Ukraine when I return there. All I’m trying to do is keep going and help Ukraine win.
Earlier in the day, Iga Swiatek maintained her chances of winning the Madrid Open title defense by defeating Madison Keys 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals to exact revenge for her loss to Keys at the Australian Open.
Next up for the second seed is Coco Gauff, who defeated 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1, for the third time in as many encounters.
The second-seeded Swiatek, who is vying for her first title of the year, overcame a shaky opening set to defeat Keys 4-0 and advance to her third straight Madrid semifinal.
Three months after defeating the Pole on her way to her first Grand Slam victory in Melbourne, Keys appeared to have figured out Swiatek’s strategy when she gave her a bagel in Wednesday’s opening set.
However, Swiatek, who was vying for a 17th straight clay quarterfinal, reduced her mistakes and responded to secure a matchup with Gauff in the round of four.
Gauff defeated Andreeva in 63 minutes of play after saving two set points when receiving at 4-5. The match took place in the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.
Outside of the mixed team United Cup tournament, Gauff easily defeated the seventh-seeded Russian in the second set to get to her first semi-final of the year.
After giving her performance a 9 out of 10, the fourth-seeded American said, “I think I played really well and stayed composed, even when facing those set points.”
In ATP play, Matteo Arnaldi, the opponent of Novak Djokovic, defeated 16th-seeded Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the Madrid quarterfinals and earn multiple top-20 victories in a single event for the first time.
Jack Draper, who defeated world number 12 Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-2 to get to his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal on clay, will face the 44th-ranked Italian.
Gabriel Diallo, a lucky loser, defeated Grigor Dimitrov, ranked 16th in the world, 5-7, 7-6(9/7), 6-4, saving three match points to go to the quarterfinals.
