Iga Swiatek may finally tick off the Madrid Open from her list this weekend after thrashing Madison Keys to set up a final showdown with either Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka at the Caja Magica.
Always a tournament that despite her clay court prowess has always had a hoodoo over Swiatek, she will aim to disrupt that. Albeit she lost last year to Sabalenka who herself is starting to look in destructive form again and is a surface that seems to delight power hitters.
Swiatek as a result may feel like her time is coming, but also is weary of the task that awaits her in either showdown. But heading into a pivotal time of the year always, it is yet more good signs for the so-called Queen of Clay.
Sealing the win in just over an hour and 10 minutes, she won the first in just over half an hour 6-1. She only faced one minor blip in the opener. She went 40-15 down on her own serve before seeing off the break threat of Keys. She then broke in the next game before seeing out the set 6-1.
The second provided a break at either end of the set as Swiatek broke to go 2-1 up and also win the match. Apart from to go 3-1 up, neither player was threatened on their serve in the middle part of the game but Swiatek still managed to romp home. For Keys, it is her best run all year after injury struggles so is a tournament to delight in instead of disappointment.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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