Iga Swiatek battles past Elina Svitolina in error-filled Miami clash to reach quarter-finals
WTA
Iga Swiatek cruised past Elina Svitolina in a lacklustre performance from both players at the Miami Open, winning 7-6(5), 6-3. In a match marked by errors, the Pole showed greater composure to overcome a tough opponent like the Ukrainian.
The 5-time Grand Slam champion once again displayed her consistency, reaching the quarter-finals in 17 of her last 18 WTA 1000 appearances. She also notched her 110th win in this tournament category. For a place in the semi-finals, she will face the tournament’s surprise package: 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, who advanced without playing after Paula Badosa’s injury.
Swiatek survives back-and-forth battle
From the start, both players applied more pressure on return than on serve. Swiatek grabbed the first break in the third game, but Svitolina quickly capitalised on Swiatek’s errors to break back. The tone of the match became clear — it promised longer rallies but was mostly decided by short points due to mistakes from both sides.
They exchanged breaks midway through the set, reaching 5-5. At that point, the Pole secured another break, giving herself the chance to serve out the set. The quality of tennis improved slightly, but errors persisted on both sides. Svitolina broke back once again, pushing the set into a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Swiatek jumped to a 3-0 lead amidst more mistakes from both players and managed to stay ahead without much brilliance. The 2022 Miami Open champion eventually claimed the set 7-6(5).
Second-set surge propels Swiatek past Svitolina into Miami quarters
After losing the first set, Svitolina requested a medical timeout to treat her foot. Once play resumed, both players traded breaks again. Swiatek capitalised on her second consecutive opportunity, surging to a 4-1 lead just as both players began extending the rallies and cutting down on errors.
The World No. 2 had several chances to break again, but Svitolina held firm. The Ukrainian clawed back to 3-4 after recovering the break but couldn’t hold her serve towards the end of the set. Swiatek served for the match — receiving a time violation warning along the way — but ultimately closed it out at a higher level, winning 7-6, 6-3.
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The Polish star emerged victorious in a match plagued by errors on both sides, far from her usual standards. She won 57% of her service points and 53% on return. In the quarter-finals, she’ll face Alexandra Eala, a Filipino wildcard who has stunned in her WTA 1000 main draw debut. Eala advanced without hitting a ball after Paula Badosa withdrew due to injury.
Match Statistics Svitolina vs. Swiatek
| Svitolina | VS | Swiatek |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 3 | Aces | 1 |
| 5 | Double Faults | 3 |
| 59% (50/85) | 1st Service Percentage | 61% (42/69) |
| 60% (30/50) | 1st Service Points Won | 67% (28/42) |
| 29% (10/35) | 2nd Service Points Won | 41% (11/27) |
| 45% (5/11) | Break Points Saved | 17% (1/6) |
| 40% (4/10) | Service Games | 55% (6/11) |
| Return | ||
| 33% (14/42) | 1st Return Points Won | 40% (20/50) |
| 59% (16/27) | 2nd Return Points Won | 71% (25/35) |
| - | Break Points Saved | - |
| Other | ||
| 2h 03m | Match Duration | 2h 03m |
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