Madrid Open 2025: Iga Swiatek overcomes ‘different’ conditions to seal comeback win over Alexandra Eala - ‘You need to be smart with tactics’

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Iga Swiatek suffered a surprise quarter-final defeat against youngster Alexandra Eala in Miami last month, but put that behind her with a three-set comeback victory over the 19-year-old on Thursday at the Madrid Open. Later on Thursday evening, Coco Gauff came back from losing the first set to defeat Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska.

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Reigning Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek defeated Alexandra Eala on Thursday afternoon, before Coco Gauff came back from a set down to beat Dayana Yastremska.

Swiatek remained on course to retain her title after securing a 4-6 6-4 6-2 comeback win over Eala, and said she was "proud" of her success.

Swiatek lost to Eala in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in March, and the Filipino teenager initially looked likely to repeat the feat when she took the first set.

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Things were looking ominous for world No. 2 Swiatek when she fell 3-2 behind after being broken in the second set, but the Pole immediately broke back, battling back to 4-4.

Back-to-back breaks saw Swiatek clinch the leveller and make headway in the third set, and she eventually enjoyed a comfortable time of things to close out the match after two hours and 16 minutes.

The second-round victory means that last year’s champion remains in the hunt to defend her Madrid crown, as she continues to search for her first title of the 2025 campaign.

Swiatek suggested after the win that the conditions in Spain were different compared to last year, but thought her style would help her to succeed.

She said: "I always love playing here. For sure, I’m just proud of my performances the last two years. It’s great to come back and have this experience.

"The conditions are different than last year. I think it’s like 10 degrees hotter. So I feel like the game is going to be a bit different. But I’m just happy to be here, and happy to enjoy Madrid.

"I feel like my topspin will work here. And I feel like the courts are pretty fast. It's not like classic clay where the ball bounce is super slow. I think you need to be smart with tactics.

"Sometimes I play with spin, sometimes a bit more flat to keep the ball going fast. I'm going to try to balance that in the next matches. I'm happy I'm going to be able to play in front of you guys more."

Speaking after the match, Eala said she was satisfied despite the loss, describing the tie as an opportunity to "learn".

"I’m happy with the match, happy with how I competed," Eala said. "Obviously, a set and a break is a good situation to be in, but you have to remember that there’s another person on the other side of the court.

"More so, a multiple Roland-Garros champion. She did well also… Things to take back and to learn."

Comparing her opponent’s performance compared to the recent match-ups, she added: "What was different was that, in my opinion, was that she executed better in the important moments, and she had a little higher level than me in specific moments of the match."

Swiatek will face No. 31 seed Linda Noskova in the third round on Saturday.

Gauff rallies after early setback

American No. 4 seed Gauff, meanwhile, defeated Yastremska, also needing three sets after falling on the wrong side of a first-set bagel.

Gauff steadied herself in the second, and broke her opponent in the opening game, before Yastremska broke back immediately and held to move into a 2-1 lead.

Gauff then snapped into far better form as she won five consecutive games, and the set with it, setting up a decisive third.

The American then raced into a 3-0 lead and looked on course for an ultimately straightforward win, but two breaks and a service game from Yastremska levelled the scores.

Gauff then broke and held her serve to go two clear, and had the chance to serve at 5-4 up only to double-fault as Yastremska broke again.

The 2023 US Open champion held her nerve and then her serve to win 7-5, as the 21-year-old continued her search for a first title win of the 2025 campaign.

Her next match is up against compatriot Ann Li on Saturday. Li defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-4 3-6 6-4 on Thursday.

You can watch every moment of the 2025 French Open live on TNT Sports and on discovery+

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