Google News WTA Madrid: Iga Swiatek and Kudermetova get the semifinals, the Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Iga Swiatek destroyed Croatina Petra Martic in straight sets, with the score of 6-0 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open 2023, demonstrating once again her strength on clay-courts. For the Pole, now, the challenge against Veronika Kudermetova.
Kudermetova surprised Jessica Pegula and reached the semifinals for the first time in a WTA 1000 tournament. The path of the Russian player was full of pitfalls: there are four victories obtained in the third set at the Mutua Madrid Open.
The 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 given to the American tennis player will allow her to play for access to the final against Iga Swiatek. Neither of the two protagonists of the first match of the day at the Manolo Santana Stadium held service at the start of the match.
Just after tying the score at 3-3, Pegula lost control of her forehand and her serve for the third time. Kudermetova no longer shook and took the set home. In the second set, however, the Russian completely exited the match and committed a large number of gratuitous errors.
Pegula took advantage of it and didn't leave a single game to her opponent. The 26-year-old was forced to request the intervention of the physiotherapist for a problem in her right leg. When the match seemed to be able to reward Pegula, the Russian raised her head and collected the first two games of the third set.
As happened in the first set, Pegula was never able to confirm his service after each break from the disadvantage recovered. The decisive jab came again at 3-3, when Kudermetova found a terrific passer and a magnificent reply at 0-30.
The Russian has no longer wavered in the batting rounds and has achieved the most important result of her career.
The men's results
Sixth semifinal in a Masters 1000 tournament, the third in 2023 and the second in Madrid, ninth consecutive victory after the physical problems suffered in Miami and another important step towards the first position in the ranking occupied by Novak Djokovic.
Carlos Alcaraz has no intention of stopping and even against Karen Khachanov he flexed his muscles when the moment called for it. It took the Spaniard a few games to adjust to his rival's solid serve, but in the end he raised his arms in victory once again.
In the very first stages of the match, Alcaraz worked alongside Khachanov, who was forced to move from one side of the field to the other in breathlessness, and sealed the first break of the day at 3-3 thanks to a magnificent cross forehand.
The Russian didn't give up and got the immediate counter break ball in the following game. However, Alcaraz unleashed a winning service and returned the message to the sender. The service and forehand scheme that allowed Khachanov to cancel a set point was useless, because Murcia's talent ended the last serving without too many worries.
In the second playset, things suddenly and unexpectedly changed. Alcaraz appeared rather tense and made hasty decisions on more than one occasion. A long forehand delivered the break to Khachanov in the fourth game. Strengthened by the advantage, the Russian gained confidence and set his pace in the exchanges.
Down 1-4, Alcaraz canceled two dangerous break points and woke up in time to not miss the last train. The Spaniard found the best game in return, closed with a goal, when his rival served for the match. On the score of 5-5, 30-30 the tape sent a clear message to the match favoring Alcaraz.
The 26-year-old from Moscow, strongly annoyed, committed a very serious forehand error and lost the fourth game in a row, the second on serve. Alcaraz wrote the last words with a relevant 6-4, 7-5.