Top seed Iga Swiatek dropped only five games en route to booking her place in the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
The world No.1 eased to a 6-3, 6-2, win over America’s Bernarda Pera in just over an hour to register her 22nd win of the season and her sixth in a row. Swiatek’s one-sided triumph is a contrast to her previous meeting against Pera at the 2019 Birmingham Open where she had to save three match points en route to winning.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy, every match is tricky here,” Swiatek said during her on-court interview.
“I’m pretty happy that I have played a little bit better every day and I’m happy I’m getting my rhythm. But playing against a lefty is never easy. I’m pretty happy that I was really disciplined and focused.”
Swiatek is seeking to win the Madrid title for the first time after missing the tournament in 2022 due to a shoulder injury. This year is only the second time she has played at the event in her career. Before playing Pera, she beat Julia Grabher 6-3, 6-2, in her opening match.
“The courts (at the Madrid Open) are pretty amazing. The whole facility is great, you feel like it is new and innovative,” the top seed commented on the event.
“This year is the first time I am staying a little bit closer to the city centre of Madrid so I have been able to do some sightseeing. This city is amazing. When I was here two years ago it was during covid so I was stuck in my hotel. Right now I am really enjoying it.” She added.
As a result of her latest win, the Pole now boasts a winning percentage of 88.2% at WTA 1000 events on the clay which has overtaken Serena Williams’ previous benchmark of 88%.
Swiatek will play either China’s Zheng Qinwen or Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
