Iga Świątek displayed remarkable resilience in her quarter-final match against Madison Keys at the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, turning around a daunting situation to secure her place in the semi-finals. After suffering a shocking first set loss of 0:6, Świątek fought back to win the next two sets 6:3, 6:2, showcasing both her mental fortitude and skill on the clay courts.
Reflecting on the match, Świątek described it as "one of the strangest she has ever played." The Polish star noted that the first set was a complete disaster, where she failed to win a single game in just 24 minutes. “It wasn’t pleasant. It was one of the strangest matches I’ve played. Maddie was playing perfectly at the start, and I wasn’t productive at all,” she explained. Despite the scoreline, Świątek insisted she didn’t feel she was playing as poorly as the result suggested.
"I was feeling the ball well, but sometimes I was hitting it too far. I tried to play shorter and hit the court, and then Maddie started making more errors, which shifted the momentum in my favor, although I’m not sure why," she added with a smile.
For Świątek, recovering from a 0:6 set is a rare occurrence, marking the first time she has lost a set to zero in over 1400 days. The last time this happened was in June 2021 during a match against Daria Kasatkina in Easbourne. “Being on the court after losing 0:6 is a strange feeling,” she admitted, recalling the emotional toll of such a setback.
In her post-match interview with Canal+, Świątek emphasized the importance of maintaining focus. “I wasn’t discouraged despite such a poor start. I knew that Madison would have her moments of struggle. I was present to take advantage of the opportunities that came my way,” she stated. She acknowledged the difficulty of keeping a high level of play throughout the match, especially when her opponent has little to lose.
“I know from experience that it’s not easy to maintain a good level of play until the end of the match because the girl on the other side also has nothing to lose. The match starts to weigh less for her because she’s one foot out of the tournament, so she just tries, while the one who is winning has more to lose,” Świątek noted.
As the match progressed, Świątek’s serve became a critical factor in her comeback. “I was focusing too much on where to serve instead of on technique and what was happening on my side of the net. Once I started thinking about that, my rhythm and timing improved significantly,” she explained, highlighting the adjustments she made to turn the match around.
Looking ahead, Świątek will face Coco Gauff in the semi-finals on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Gauff secured her spot by defeating Mirra Andreeva 7:5, 6:1. The match is set to begin no earlier than 16:00, following the match between Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev at 13:00. “I’ll try to relax, but I’ll be ready no matter when I have to play,” Świątek said, expressing her determination to perform well against Gauff.
Historically, both players have faced each other multiple times, with Gauff winning their last encounter during the United Cup final in Australia earlier this year. In that match, Świątek lost to Gauff, and she is eager to turn the tables this time around. “I know Coco is a great player and knows how to play on clay. I’ll prepare and give it my all,” she concluded.
As the tournament progresses, the anticipation builds for a thrilling semi-final clash between two of the brightest stars in women’s tennis. Świątek’s journey through the Madrid tournament has already been a rollercoaster, and fans are eager to see if she can continue her impressive run.
