The top-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated world number one Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-2 in their Miami Open fourth-round encounter on Monday.
The sixteenth position With Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff also out, Alexandrova eliminated the top three seeds from the WTA competition with an impressive display of attacking tennis from the onset in her victory over the Pole.
The Miami Open quarterfinals will be reached by France’s Caroline Garcia, who defeated world no. 3 Gauff, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, on Monday. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina defeated world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.
After Alexandrova broke Swiatek in the first game, she never seemed at ease again, dominating the match with some brilliant, aggressive tennis.
The Pole created just one break point during the match, hoping to become the second woman to achieve the “Sunshine Double” after her victory at Indian Wells, but Alexandrova saved it to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
Swiatek would have had some hope of winning the match after overcoming Linda Noskova in the previous round, but her Russian opponent was not going to let mistakes get in the way of her plans.
She breezed through the second set, breaking with an astonishing cross-court return to lead 2-1 and finishing with 31 wins against Swiatek’s 11.
Since losing to Ash Barty in Adelaide in January 2022, Swiatek had not broken serve in a match until this one.
“I’m really upset since I had high expectations for my performance in Miami. However, she was undoubtedly the superior player today after an incredible match, according to the 22-year-old four-time grand slam champion.
Swiatek claimed that although she found it difficult to interpret Alexandrova’s serve, she didn’t feel as though she was performing well in the competition.
“I didn’t feel like I could play in a natural way, but I don’t always feel at ease on the court either. “I believed I could overcome that,” the woman remarked.
Though Alexandrova was not going to minimise her performance, she did laugh off the idea that she had played a flawless match.
She remarked, “I think it was pretty good and I hope I can keep it for the next match. It was such a great game for me in terms of consistency, the serve, the returns, and the playing from the baseline.”
She was a quarterfinalist in Miami last year as well. On Wednesday, she will take on Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed.
In one hour and forty-three minutes, Garcia—who on Sunday had defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets—kept up her impressive play as she defeated Gauff on her home court.
“Hard loss”
Garcia, ranked 27th in the world, emerged victorious from an exciting clash that flowed and ebbed and will now face the winner of Monday’s match between Romanian Sorana Cirstea and American Danielle Collins in the last eight.
Garcia won her third career match (3-2) against Gauff, whom she had defeated at the 2022 US Open, but it was her first against a top 10 opponent since late 2022.
“It was undoubtedly a fantastic match, and I won big.” Additionally, the past few months have not been simple. It also means a lot today, especially in light of yesterday’s match. And the tennis was excellent,” she remarked.
South Florida native Gauff was frustrated that he had not advanced further in front of his home crowd.
She remarked, “It was basically an up-and-down match. It is a tough loss.” I knew going in that she played with aggression, so I believe it was crucial for me to simply adjust the ball’s height.
For the most part of the second set, I performed that well. The American continued, “I think it just completely changed the momentum starting off the third with an early break.”
Elena Rybakina, ranked fourth, upset American Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will face Maria Sakkari of Greece.
Following Anna Kalinskaya’s withdrawal ahead of their match on Monday owing to a right thigh injury, Sakkari advanced with a walkover.
Victoria Azarenka advanced as well, defeating Katie Boulter of Britain 7-5, 6-1.