Swiatek Cruises In Opener While Azarenka, Rybakina Out At Madrid Masters; Coco v Badosa Sat.

by Staff | April 28th, 2023, 8:28 pm
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Iga Swiatek cruised in her Madrid Masters opener with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Julia Grabher to advance to the third round.

The Polish world No. 1 broke serve four times and lost just eight points on first serve in the win. Swiatek has now won 23 of her last 24 matches on clay.

Swiatek, who is playing in just her second Madrid Masters, will have a day off before matching up with Bernarda Pera on Sunday.


2022 runner-up Jessica Pegula sent off Magdalena Frech of Poland in straights 7-6(7-5), 6-3. The 29-year-old Pegula smacked eight aces, hit three doubles and was 3 of 7 on break chances.

While Swiatek and Pegula won in straights, two big upsets hit.

Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina fell to Anna Kalinskaya of Russia upset 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. And former finalist Victoria Azarenka was upset by the rising American Alycia Parks 6-2, 7-6(7-5).

Elsewhere on Friday, former French winner Barbora Krejcikova topped Danka Kovinic in three 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. No. 12 seed Veronika Kudermetova ousted Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

The 16th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova dismissed Alize Cornet 7-6(7-2), 6-3. Martina Trevisan bested Eugenie Bouchard in straights 6-2, 7-5. Xiyu Wang upended 23rd-seeded Bianca Andreescu 3-6, 7-6(7-5), 6-2.

Daria Kasatkina, Qinwen Zheng and Petra Martic were also winners.

Tomorrow, the third round opens up with seeds meeting.

Former champion Aryna Sabalenka battles Camila Osorio. Sabalenka took their sole contest at Wimbledon in 2021.

No. 5 Caroline Garcia faces Mayar Sherif, No. 6 Coco Gauff battles No. 26 Paula Badosa in a big match, No. 9 Maria Sakkari will meet Rebeka Masarova and No. 14 Liudmila Samsonova takes No. 19 Jelena Ostapenko.

“Against Coco, we played a few times,” Badosa said. “Big server, aggressive, very good backhand, one of the best backhands in the world. She’s very physical, but I think it’s a very tactical match. She plays good on clay. She did French Open final last year.

“But I like these kind of matches. I know it’s a challenge, and I’m really looking forward to play against her as well with my home crowd.”


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