Madrid Open: Swiatek advances to last 16

Iga Swiatek defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday. She’ll play the winner of the match between Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 23 seed, and Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in the next round

Iga Swiatek in Madrid (Zuma/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

April 27, 2024

Mutua Madrid Open •Third round • completed

See draw

I. SwiatekvsS. Cirstea

Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open by winning against Romanian Sorana Cirstea, the No 27 seed, 6-1, 6-1 at the Caja Magica on Saturday.

“I’m happy that I could play in a solid way and I [have the rest of] the day off!” said Swiatek after her early start and swift finish in one hour and 18 minutes.

This was Cirstea’s first time in the third round since 2017, although she has reached the quarter-finals twice before.

But the world No 30 – who has never yet beaten a world No 1 in five attempts – was never going to get past Swiatek, who has lost to a player ranked outside the Top 20 just twice in 2024.

And Cirstea surely also remembered her straight-sets defeat at Swiatek’s hands in Doha – 6-1, 6-1.

Swiatek, ranked No 1, will play the winner of the match between Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 23 seed, and Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo next.

Ahead of her victory, the 22-year-old Pole beat Chinese Xiyu Wang (6-1, 6-4).

Cirstea, ranked No 30, edged out Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala (6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4) in the previous round of the Madrid tournament.

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