World No. 1 Iga Swiatek qualified as in 2023 for the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, less than a month before Roland-Garros, by outclassing the American Madison Keys (20th) 6-1, 6- 3 in 70 minutes Thursday.
A year ago on Spanish clay, Swiatek lost to world second Aryna Sabalenka (6-3, 3-6, 6-3).
Saturday’s final will perhaps be an opportunity for revenge for the three-time winner of Roland-Garros, if Sabalenka emerges victorious from the second semi-final in the evening. The double winner of the Australian Open is opposed to Elena Rybakina, world No.4 recently titled in Stuttgart (Germany).
After a quarter-final in three sets lasting two and a half hours against the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (14th) on Tuesday, Swiatek resumed her cruising speed against Keys.
“I’m happy with everything, I had a really solid match, a clean performance,” she said.
Throughout the Madrid tournament, “overall I played good matches, my game was effective, I’m happy to still be fresh before the final”, added the world No.1.
“I feel very confident. In each tournament that I play, I obtain good results, I am happy to regularly play semi-finals, finals, and sometimes to be titled. It’s a very pleasant situation. I’m happy that hard work is paying off,” rejoiced Swiatek, victorious in Doha and Miami in 2024.
For her first tournament of the season on clay, the 22-year-old Pole was stopped in the semi-finals by Rybakina in Stuttgart a dozen days ago.
Swiatek is living his 101st week on the throne of world tennis.
2024-05-02 19:41:26
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