Ekaterina
Alexandrova (No. 14) had a tremendous performance to overcome
Iga Swiatek (No.
1) by 6-4, 6-2 and advance to the quarterfinals of the
Miami Open for the
second consecutive year. The Russian tennis player secured her first victory
against a World No. 1 with a dominant display, ending Swiatek's Sunshine Double
dream.
From the
outset of the match, Alexandrova took the lead with an early break in her first
opportunity. The Russian did not give many chances from her serve and even
pressured Swiatek for a second break, but the Polish player did not yield.
Nonetheless, the early break was enough for Alexandrova to claim the first set
6-4.
The first
set was evenly matched, with Swiatek having a 69% first serve percentage and
winning 71% of them, compared to Alexandrova's 56% first serve percentage,
winning 75% of them. The Russian was more effective in second serve return
points, winning 55% compared to Swiatek's 44%.
The second
set began with Swiatek defending her serve, but then she fell into a negative
streak, committing several unforced errors that are not usual for the 4-times
Grand Slam champion, and Alexandrova consecutively won 5 games to take an
abrupt 5-1 lead.
There was
no time for a reaction from the World No. 1, who defended her serve for the
last time before Alexandrova closed out an incredible performance with her
serve by 6-4, 6-2 for her second victory against Swiatek. In the quarterfinals,
she will face Jessica Pegula (No. 5), who defeated her compatriot Emma Navarro
(No. 20) by 7-6(1), 6-3.