Iga Swiatek had to work to overcome teenager Mirra Andreeva on Saturday with the world number one squeezing out a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 fightback at the Cincinnati Open.
The top-seeded Pole needed a break in the penultimate game of a match lasting more than two and a half hours to finally advance into the semi-finals of the WTA and ATP event, a US Open tuneup that concludes tomorrow.
Swiatek advanced on her first match point as her opponent drove a return long.
“She’s 17, but I feel we were playing at the same level,” Swiatek said. “It was a tight match. Every point matters at the end. It was not easy for sure.”
Swiatek said that after losing the opening set, she needed a change of tactics.
“I knew I could not play in the same way. I needed to put more pressure on her,” Swiatek said.
“I played more proactive and had a better idea of what I needed to do. The same rhythm (as the first set) would not be enough.
“I changed things and felt the results right away.”
Swiatek was broken in the third game of the 53-minute opening set and was never able to get it back. Andreeva needed two set points to claim the opener, earning the lead with an ace. Swiatek struck back in the second set with a break for 2-0, which she held throughout to level the sets at one each. In the third, the top seed secured the last-minute break for a 6-5 lead and raised her hands in victory as Andreeva returned over the baseline a game later on Swiatek’s first match point.
While Swiatek battled, World No.3 Arnya Sabalenka cruised in 1 hour and 19 minutes - leveling her all-time head-to-head with Samsonova at 2-2 in the process.
From 2-2 in the first set, Sabalenka won 10 of the last 13 games - including three in a row in the middle of the first set, and five from 5-3 to 6-3, 4-0.
Alcaraz says sorry for racquet smash in ‘worst’ career loss
Carlos Alcaraz made his apologies yestyerday, a day after smashing his racquet in fury during a second-round loss to Gael Monfils at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.
The Spaniard, who currently owns both the French Open and Wimbledon titles, erupted in frustration at his game against the French veteran.
The Spanish second seed called his 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 defeat the “worst match” of his career.
But he took to Instagram on Saturday to calm the waters as he prepares to make amends on court at the US Open.
“I want to apologise for my attitude on Saturday, it was not good and that should not happen on court,” he posted.
“I’m human, the nerves had accumulated and sometimes it is very tough to control when there is that tension. I will work so that it doesn’t happen again.”
