Iga Swiatek ‘disappointed’ after sunshine double bid comes to an end
Iga Swiatek has seen her eight-match winning streak come to an end, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Swiatek was beaten by the Russian, 4-6 2-6, bringing an end to the world No.1’s bid to complete the sunshine double for a second time.
The Pole reflected on her second straight sets defeat of the season, “Disappointed, for sure, because I thought I was going to play better here in Miami.
“She played an amazing match and for sure, she was the better player out there today. Her serve, I had a hard time reading it. I got a little bit tense when I couldn’t return well.”
Swiatek added, “I was feeling that I couldn’t play in a natural way but it’s not like I always feel comfortable on court. I thought I would be able to work through that.”
It was the first time that Swiatek had not broken serve in a match at a WTA 1000 tournament since playing Ons Jabeur in Cincinnati back in 2021.
Swiatek’s opponent, Alexandrova, spoke about the biggest win of her career after the match, “We played quite a few times before and sometimes it was three sets. I think sometimes I was quite close to it but still far away.”
The world No.16 continued, “Winning against her, of course it feels great. I’m not sure if it’s a surprise or not, but I just worked quite hard on the court, and it paid off.
“Second quarter-final here, second year in a row. Beating Iga after so many tries and she’s No.1, it’s the first time I beat a No.1. All three things are very special to me.”
Alexandrova will play fifth seed Jessica Pegula tomorrow, in an attempt to reach the second WTA 1000 semi-final of her career.
2 – Since the WTA-1000 format's start in 2009, it is the second time where each of the top three seeds have not reached the QF at the Miami Open, after 2018 – Simona Halep (R3), Caroline Wozniacki (R2), Garbine Muguruza (R16). Upsets.#MiamiOpen | @MiamiOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/soYoBStpj1
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 26, 2024
Whereas Swiatek will now have a couple of weeks off, before Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier tie against Switzerland between 12th and 13th April.
The 22-year-old will then kick-off her clay court season at the WTA 500 event in Stuttgart, where Swiatek has claimed the title over the past two years.
Inside the baseline…
Iga Swiatek was completely outplayed by Ekaterina Alexandrova last night, something that she has openly admitted. Other than the win against Camila Giorgi, it seemed that Swiatek never really found her form in Miami and there were warning signs in her three set victory over Linda Noskova. This has left the draw now without any of the top three seeds, leaving a good opportunity open for the last eight players.
READ NEXT: Andy Murray facing ‘extended period’ out after Miami injury blow
Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
