Madrid Open: Iga Swiatek races past Madison Keys to seal spot in semifinal

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek booked her spot in the Madrid Open final for the second year in a row with a victory over the No. 18 seed, Madison Keys, in a semifinal clash on Thursday.

Poland’s Swiatek cruised to her third final of the year with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over the American, wrapping up the match in just 70 minutes.

Swiatek got off to a strong start, taking a 3-0 lead, but Keys mounted a brief comeback attempt, earning double break point at 3-1. However, Swiatek showcased her resilience, fending off the challenge with some of her best serves of the day, ultimately securing a 4-1 lead and clinching the first set.

Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek expressed satisfaction, stating, “It was a pretty clean performance and a really solid game from myself. I’m happy with everything.”

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Swiatek seizing an early lead and maintaining her momentum. Despite another break opportunity for Keys, Swiatek remained composed and held onto her advantage.

Swiatek found herself with three match points at 5-3, and she capitalized on the opportunity, sealing the victory with a powerful forehand serve return.

In the final, Swiatek will face either No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka or No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina, as she vies for her third WTA 1000 title of 2024 on Saturday.

(With ANI inputs)