Madrid: At Caja Magica Tennis Court, Madrid Open restored a packed schedule, including second-place Iga Swiatek to advance to the quarterfinals after a “easier” day, due to a power outage.
The highest ranked Aryna Sabalenka entered the past eight games by directly beating Peyton Stearns, and on the men’s side, top seed Alexander Zverev was frustrated with Argentina’s 21-level Francisco Cerundolo.
After a major power outage that prompted 22 games to postpone it on Monday, Swiatek returned to the Central Stadium to beat Diana Shnaider 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4 to keep track of her title in the Spanish capital.
“I like yesterday. I think the whole world is more relaxed, a little bit obvious because this guy didn’t lose,” she said. “I love taking a break and I’m trying to heal because we definitely need to taste these days of freedom.”
Swiatek said she took food from the competition location and relaxed at the hotel until the power started again.
“I just refrigerate and use this time without thinking about what I should do,” she said. “There is no signal, so basically no one uses their phone. It’s good, I love it.”
Most of Madrid have recovered electricity overnight, but Caja Magica still has no electricity, which has resulted in delays in opening the doors for fans.
However, power will soon appear and organizers don’t have to change the schedule of the day, although night meetings may be delayed due to the high number of matches during the day.
Swiatek Faces the Key
Swiatek cruised in the first set but had to save 11 of 13 breakout points for a tough victory on the 13 seed Shnaider.
Swiatek hasn’t lost before the quarterfinals in seven games this season, but hasn’t surpassed the semifinals since last year’s Roland Garros. Next, she will face Madison Keys, who beat Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3.
Since she got the match point in the Australian Open semifinal, it will be Swiatek’s first meeting with the Keys as she won the match at the Keys.
“We played here last year, but I think it was an evening meeting,” Swiatek said. “I don’t know, I think it’s like it’s colder or a little different, so for sure, we’re going to watch the game.”
Sabalenka reaches eight times again
Sabalenka defeated No. 44 Stearns 6-2, 6-4, and defeated Madrid quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years.
This is the 28th victory of the WTA Tour leading the two-time Madrid champion this season. She tied for 27 with Jessica Pegula.
Sabalenka lost to Swiatek in the final last year.
Zverev expelled
Cerundolo continued his rankings to rise rapidly by defeating second-place Zverev 7-5, 6-3.
Cerundolo, who beat Zverez in Madrid last year, once won the game in each group and saved the only rest he admitted at the center stadium.
He also beat Zvev in Madrid last year.
Zverev is about to win the title in Munich and will continue to defend his title in Rome.
“He performed better today than me,” Zverev said. “When we played here last year, he definitely played better than me. But, honestly, I didn’t play the horrible game, he played better than me.”
Berttini was injured
On the men’s side, Matteo Berrettini, No. 31, withdrew her abdominal injury after losing the first set of 7-6 (2).
The sixth seed Alex de Minaur tied for Carlos Alcaraz this season with a tour-leading 24th victory, beating Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (3).
De Minaur, ranked seventh, will next face Lorenzo Musetti, who beat 2019 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Americans Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe both won the competition. Paul of the 11th seed beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, while Tiafoe of the 16th seed beat Alexandre Muller 6-3, 6-3.
Paul is one of the players who must play doubles on the same day of the singles game. The other is Jakub Mensik, 19, a Miami champion who beat Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2 and then had to play doubles on the same court.
The 27-year-old Bublik joked about his conversation with the match referee during the transition.
“Remember when tennis was easy? Just like playing tennis was very easy five years ago.” “A group of random people in the top 50 barely moved. Now this guy doesn’t even have the top 5, not even the top 10. What is that?”
The ninth seed Daniil Medvedev matched his career best in Madrid’s career best results by defeating Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. No. 4 Taylor Fritz is another American who lost 7-5, 6-4 to Casper Ruud.
Ticket Conductor Refund
There are large lines outside the complex, and people who compete on Tuesday are not allowed to participate in the competition on Tuesday.
“No one said anything,” Juan Duato said. “They said we couldn’t come in and asked us to contact customer support. Obviously, they would send us an email.”
Organizers said late Tuesday that anyone who purchases tickets on Monday will receive a full refund. The process will be automatically performed in the next few days.
