Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka and world No 1 Iga Swiatek will face off once more on the Mutua Madrid Open in a repeat of final yr’s remaining.
World No 1 Swiatek wanted simply 71 minutes to succeed in her third remaining of the yr and transfer one step nearer to her third WTA 1000 title of the yr in a one-sided semi-final, cruising to a 6-1 6-3 victory.
The Pole completed runner-up to Sabalenka at Madrid final yr and can now meet the Belarusian in a rematch after the second seed overcame former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a final-set thriller.
Swiatek broke serve within the second sport of the match and, after saving two break factors for a 4-1 lead, by no means appeared at risk of relinquishing the higher hand towards her big-hitting opponent.
“(I really feel) actually good,” Swiatek mentioned in a courtside interview broadcast on Sky Sports activities Tennis. “I wasn’t actually interested by what occurred final yr, however for positive repeating this nice consequence is a good factor and I’ll have an opportunity to play a pleasant match in two days, so it is actually thrilling and I am blissful total with the entire event.”
Story of the Tape
‘Swiatek performed with enormous quantity of confidence’
“As anticipated Iga Swiatek acquired off to a quick begin and by no means appeared again,” Anne Keothavong mentioned on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
“She was the higher participant in each division. Simply had an excessive amount of for Madison Keys, who did her greatest to try to dwell along with her in a few of her exchanges and there have been some moments the place you thought she’s going to blast her well beyond Iga however she simply wasn’t in a position to produce that type of tennis constantly.”
Sky Sports activities Tennis pundit Colin Fleming added: “Iga Swiatek is the last word take a look at on clay within the girls’s sport proper now. Keys’ good things was adequate but it surely was simply few and much between. She had three break factors within the match however could not fairly take them however there is no disgrace in that. Swiatek is so relentless on this floor.”
Sabalenka closes on Madrid repeat
Sabalenka wanted greater than two hours to beat Rybakina and proceed the defence of her title, rallying from a set right down to win 1-6 7-5 7-6 (5) and guide her place in Saturday’s remaining.
It should even be the primary assembly of 2024 between Swiatek and Sabalenka, who prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 in final yr’s remaining, and tenth of their careers.
“I am blissful that we will play a remaining towards the highest gamers,” Swiatek mentioned on Thursday earlier than understanding her remaining opponent. “It reveals consistency. For positive it should be a problem, whoever it should be. I might be prepared. I’ll give attention to myself.”
Rybakina twice broke Sabalenka within the first set and cruised to a simple 6-1 margin. Sabalenka then discovered herself down 3-1 and 4-2 within the second set, solely to win 5 of her subsequent six video games to degree the competition.
Each gamers held serve all through the third set, however Sabalenka, the back-to-back Australian Open champion, raced forward 5-1 within the tie-breaker earlier than successful on her third match level.
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis?
Within the run-up to the second Grand Slam of 2024 – the French Open at Roland Garros from Could 26 – you possibly can watch the entire greatest tennis stars in motion dwell on Sky Sports activities as they compete throughout the clay-court season.
- Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome (ATP and WTA Masters 1000) – Could 7-19
- Geneva Open (ATP 250) – Could 20-26
- Lyon Open (ATP 250) – Could 20-26
- Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA 500 with Emma Raducanu in motion) – Could 20-26
- Morocco Open (WTA 250) – Could 20-26
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