The number one easily defeated Martic and the Russian beat Pegula in three sets
MADRID, 3 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Polish Iga Swiatek and the Russian Veronika Kudermetova will be the stars of the second semifinal of the Mutua Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 category tournament that takes place on clay, after eliminating Croatian Petra Martic (6-0, 6- 3) and American Jessica Pegula (6-4, 0-6, 6-4).
Swiatek will face Russian Kudermetova for a place in the final, who defeated last year’s runner-up, American Pegula, in three sets 6-4, 0-6, 6-4.
The Russian won a first set marked by the exchange of ‘breaks’ between the two. The third that she achieved finally gave her an advantage that she did not miss to take the lead, although the reaction of her rival was brilliant, losing only five points to take the clash to a third and final set. Kudermetova, after requiring medical attention, improved and although she missed her first two breaks, she did not do so with the third one that Pegula could no longer balance.
Later, in the Manolo Santana, the number one in the world extended her best participation in the Spanish capital. Swiatek, absent last year due to injury when he had 37 victories in a row, did not give a chance to a Martic that he already won in Indian Wells two years ago.
The Pole, in her 45th clay court win since 2020 (more than any other player), swept 6-0 to start the quarterfinal clash. Facing no break point in the second set, Swiatek broke her rival in the sixth game and advanced to a semifinal against Kudermetova.