Tennis: Poland’s Świątek advances to Madrid Open quarterfinals

Poland’s Iga Świątek has reached the last eight of the women's singles at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Spain, with a hard-fought win over Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Iga Świątek in action at the 2023 Madrid Open.

Photo: EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez

The Polish world No. 1 outlasted the 16th-seeded Russian 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in their fourth-round clash on Monday.

Problem-solving skills 💯

🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek booked her spot in the #MMOPEN quarterfinals after passing stern Alexandrova test. True warrior.pic.twitter.com/qz2qWlTuIm

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 1, 2023

She took 2 hours and 25 minutes to make her first career Madrid Open quarterfinal.

Shaken, not stirred 🤨🤨

🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek survives an exciting three-setter against Alexandrova 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 to reach her first #MMOPEN quarterfinals.

Mouth-watering clay clash vs Martic on the horizon. pic.twitter.com/rShBRsBr6j

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 1, 2023

"That wasn’t an easy match," Świątek said afterwards, as quoted on the wtatennis.com website.

🎾To nie była łatwa przeprawa, ale Iga #Świątek awansowała do ćwierćfinału turnieju WTA w Madrycie! Polka po zaciekłym boju i trwający niemal 2,5 godziny spotkaniu pokonała Rosjankę Jekaterinę Aleksandrową 6:4, 6:7 (3), 6:3! W 1/4 finału Iga zmierzy się z Chorwatką Petrą Martić! pic.twitter.com/MNnVHJLp1B

— Trójka – Program 3 Polskiego Radia (@RadiowaTrojka) May 1, 2023

"In the second set, I had the lead and I lost it, so for sure it wasn’t easy, but I’m pretty happy that I could reset in the third," she added. "I was ready, I got a break pretty early, so overall I’m happy with the performance."

The 21-year-old Pole will next face 27th-seeded Croatian Petra Martić for a place in the last four at the clay-court tournament in the Spanish capital.

Iga Świątek awansowała do ćwierćfinału turnieju WTA w Madrycie. Polka zna już kolejną rywalkę! #MMOPEN🇪🇸

👇 https://t.co/kD2ISIM5XQ

— Sport PR (@sportradiopl) May 2, 2023

The 2023 Madrid Open runs until May 7.

Świątek, coached by countryman Tomasz Wiktorowski, has topped the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) world rankings since April 4, 2022.

The Polish player missed last year's Madrid Open due to a shoulder injury.

(gs)

Source: PAP, Canal+, wtatennis.com