Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka and world No 1 Iga Swiatek will face off once more on the Mutua Madrid Open in a repeat of final 12 months’s last.
World No 1 Swiatek wanted simply 71 minutes to succeed in her third last of the 12 months and transfer one step nearer to her third WTA 1000 title of the 12 months in a one-sided semi-final, cruising to a 6-1 6-3 victory.
The Pole completed runner-up to Sabalenka at Madrid final 12 months and can now meet the Belarusian in a rematch after the second seed overcame former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a final-set thriller.
Swiatek broke serve within the second recreation of the match and, after saving two break factors for a 4-1 lead, by no means appeared in peril of relinquishing the higher hand towards her big-hitting opponent.
“(I feel) really good,” Swiatek mentioned in a courtside interview broadcast on Sky Sports activities Tennis. “I wasn’t really thinking about what happened last year, but for sure repeating this great result is a great thing and I’m going to have a chance to play a nice match in two days, so it’s really exciting and I’m happy overall with the whole tournament.”
Story of the Tape
‘Swiatek performed with big quantity of confidence’
“As expected Iga Swiatek got off to a fast start and never looked back,” Anne Keothavong mentioned on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
“She was the better player in every department. Just had too much for Madison Keys, who did her best to try and live with her in some of her exchanges and there were some moments where you thought she’s going to blast her way past Iga but she just wasn’t able to produce that kind of tennis consistently.”
Sky Sports activities Tennis pundit Colin Fleming added: “Iga Swiatek is the ultimate test on clay in the women’s game right now. Keys’ good stuff was good enough but it was just few and far between. She had three break points in the match but couldn’t quite take them but there’s no shame in that. Swiatek is so relentless on this surface.”
Sabalenka closes on Madrid repeat
Sabalenka wanted greater than two hours to beat Rybakina and proceed the defence of her title, rallying from a set all the way down to win 1-6 7-5 7-6 (5) and e-book her place in Saturday’s last.
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Aryna Sabalenka discusses her victory over Elena Rybakina and what it means to e-book a spot within the Madrid Open last towards Iga Swiatek
It would even be the primary assembly of 2024 between Swiatek and Sabalenka, who prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 in final 12 months’s last, and tenth of their careers.
“I’m happy that we can play a final against the top players,” Swiatek mentioned on Thursday earlier than realizing her last opponent. “It shows consistency. For sure it’s going to be a challenge, whoever it’s going to be. I will be ready. I will focus on myself.”
Rybakina twice broke Sabalenka within the first set and cruised to a simple 6-1 margin. Sabalenka then discovered herself down 3-1 and 4-2 within the second set, solely to win 5 of her subsequent six video games to degree the competition.
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Highlights of Elena Rybakina towards Aryana Sabalenka from the Madrid Open semi-finals
Each gamers held serve all through the third set, however Sabalenka, the back-to-back Australian Open champion, raced forward 5-1 within the tie-breaker earlier than profitable on her third match level.
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