Iga Swiatek has faced unexpected challenges at the Mutua Madrid Open this year. On her way to the quarterfinals, the defending champion uncharacteristically dropped sets to younger competitors Alexandra Eala and Diana Shnaider.
Wednesday brought a surprising turn of events. While Swiatek is known for her impressive “bagels” (6-0 sets), it was her opponent, No. 5 seed Madison Keys, who delivered one in the first set, winning it 6-0 in just 24 minutes.
However, Swiatek is a four-time Roland Garros champion with strong reasons for her success, especially on clay where she wins nearly 90 percent of her matches. Her clay-court prowess kicked in, enabling her to turn the match around and secure a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
In her post-match interview, Swiatek described the encounter as “one of the weirdest matches I’ve ever played.” She felt her play in the first set wasn`t terrible, but her shots were simply going long. She adjusted her strategy by playing shorter shots, and some errors from Keys helped shift the momentum in her favor. Swiatek expressed happiness about successfully navigating the difficult match.
Upcoming Semifinal Against Gauff
The hard-fought win sends Swiatek into Thursday`s semifinals, where she will face No. 4 seed Coco Gauff. Gauff reached this stage by winning nine of the last ten games in her quarterfinal match against No. 7 seed Mirra Andreeva.
Swiatek holds a significant career lead over Gauff with an 11-3 record. However, Gauff has claimed victory in their two most recent meetings, including one earlier this year at the United Cup. Despite these recent wins, Gauff is still seeking her first win against Swiatek on clay.
Match Statistics and Milestones
A key factor in the match was unforced errors, with Keys recording 35 compared to Swiatek`s 25.
Swiatek now leads the head-to-head series against Keys 5-2, maintaining a perfect 4-0 record against her on clay.
This marks Swiatek`s 20th semifinal appearance in her 36 WTA 1000 tournaments. She joins an exclusive group, alongside Serena Williams and Simona Halep, as only the third player to win her first six completed clay-court quarterfinals at this elite level.
While Keys previously defeated Swiatek (then World No. 2) in the Australian Open semifinals (a tournament Keys went on to win), that match was played on a hard court. The dynamics of the game change dramatically on clay.
Match Highlights and Turnaround
Swiatek was aiming to achieve her third consecutive Madrid semifinal, a feat previously accomplished only by Maria Sharapova. However, the unexpected 6-0 first set loss was a rare occurrence for the Pole. It was the first time she had lost a set without winning a game in nearly four years, ending a remarkable streak of 625 completed sets without being shut out. In that opening set, she made 10 unforced errors, won only 29 percent of points on her serve, and just nine points in total.
The second set saw a dramatic shift. Swiatek looked much more comfortable and in control. Keys, precise in the first set, committed 15 unforced errors in the second. Swiatek broke Keys` serve twice and sealed the set on her second opportunity when a Keys forehand return went into the net.
As the match progressed into the third set, Swiatek`s superior movement became increasingly influential. She secured the crucial first break of the set at 2-2 on Keys` serve after a lengthy point where she saved break points and finished with a sharp backhand volley.
Swiatek consistently targeted Keys` backhand, effectively opening up the court. Keys struggled with consistency under pressure, with errors coming from both her forehand and backhand. Another backhand error gave Swiatek a second break, allowing her to serve for the match at 5-2. She converted her second match point when a Keys forehand sailed wide.
Reflecting on the first set, Swiatek noted Keys` excellent serving made it very difficult to win points. She admitted that losing her own serve made the situation complicated. However, she emphasized the importance of the second set as an opportunity to change tactics, stating that improving her serve was a key factor in turning the match around.
