Iga Swiatek is still searching for her first title in 2025, despite reaching the quarterfinals of every tournament she’s played in this year.
The Polish star began her clay-court season with a shock defeat at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, when Swiatek lost to Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals.
Bouncing back in Madrid, Swiatek battled past Alexandra Eala in a tough second-round match to advance in three sets.
Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Carrying that momentum through to the third round, Swiatek beat Linda Noskova to set up an intriguing last 16 clash with Russian youngster, Diana Shnaider.
The WTA Tour’s number two-ranked player was successful in her bid to reach the quarterfinals as she now reveals what she did when Spain experienced an electricity blackout on Monday, April 29.
Iga Swiatek says the electricity blackout was ‘nice’ and that she ‘liked it’ after reaching Madrid quarters
Speaking after her 6-0, 6-7, 6-4 win over 21-year-old Shnaider, Swiatek looked back upon one of the strangest days in Madrid Open history.
“Honestly, yesterday I think the whole world was more relaxed,” said Swiatek.
“It’s good that in Madrid that the sun is setting pretty late, as soon as it kind of got down and it was dark, they put the energy back in our area.
“Honestly, I just chilled, and used that time to not think about what I should do, text, contact, there was no signal, it was nice, I liked it.”
Swiatek was pleased to come away with the win as she assessed the court conditions in Madrid.
“I had time to rest, today was for sure a tricky day, but I’m happy that I’m through, I played well and I’m happy that I found a way, even though in the second set I started playing a bit worse than the first,” she said.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
“For sure when it’s getting hotter you need to control the ball a little bit more.
“I’m through to the quarters, so you can say that I adjusted, and I’m happy that I’m going to have another chance to play here.”
Swiatek has now reached the quarterfinals of 17 consecutive clay-court WTA tournaments.
The last player to achieve such a feat was Swiss legend Martina Hingis, who reached 19 straight quarterfinals on the surface between 1997 and 2002.
If Swiatek were to reach the last eight of the Italian Open and French Open over the next month or so, she’d match Hingis’ record of 19 clay quarterfinals in a row.
Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys prepare for rematch at the Madrid Open
Next up for the Pole is Madison Keys, who beat Swiatek, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 at the Australian Open in January.
The American is yet to drop a set at the 2025 Madrid Open and looks to be in fine form ahead of her seventh career meeting with Swiatek.
- 2025 Madrid Open 4R – Madison Keys beat Donna Vekic, 6-2, 6-3
- 2025 Madrid Open 3R – Madison Keys beat Anna Kalinskaya, 7-5, 7-6
- 2025 Madrid Open 2R – Madison Keys beat Lucia Bronzetti, 6-4, 6-3
She has, however, lost all three of her matches against the 23-year-old on the clay, falling to defeat most recently at last year’s Madrid Open.
Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys’ head-to-head record
Playing for a place in the final, Swiatek came out on top, 6-1, 6-3, before beating Aryna Sabalenka to lift her maiden title in the Spanish capital.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Keys will surely be confident of securing her first clay win over Swiatek this time around, having performed as well as she has in 2025.
Only Sabalenka has accumulated more points in 2025 than Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who seems to have found another gear at the age of 30.
Live WTA ‘Race’ 2025
It remains to be seen if Keys can secure another highly impressive win in 2025 when she takes on Swiatek, but it’ll certainly be worth a watch.
Swiatek and Keys will face off for a place in the 2025 Madrid Open semi-finals on Wednesday, April 30.