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Iga Swiatek showed her respect for Bernarda Pera after their Madrid match as the Pole refused to say it was "quite easy" to beat the American. Swiatek, seeded at No 1, crushed 32nd-ranked Pera 6-3 6-2 to progress into the Madrid quarterfinal.
After the match, Swiatek was asked to reflect on "quite an easy win." "Obviously, I wouldn't say it was easy. Every match is tricky here. So, I'm happy that I'm getting my rhythm. Playing against a lefty is never easy. But I'm pretty happy that I was disciplined and focused," Swiatek said after the win.
The interviewer after the match told Swiatek it was an easy win
Iga is so thoughtful and respectful, she said no wins are easy
"I wouldn't say it was easy, every match is tricky here..." pic.twitter.com/IpDf6AKcIE — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 30, 2023
Swiatek got the job done in two sets against Pera
After saving three consecutive break points in the second game, Pera earned the first break of the match in the third game to open a 2-1 lead.
Swiatek quickly recovered after a slow start to the match as the Pole earned back-to-back breaks in the fourth and sixth games to win four games in a row and take a 5-2 lead. In the eighth game - when Pera was serving to stay in the first set - she saved a set point to end Swiatek's run of four consecutive games won.
However, it didn't change much as Swiatek routinely served out for the first set in the following game. After winning the first set, Swiatek also started the second set by breaking Pera in the first game. In the fifth game, Swiatek earned her second break of the second set.
Up by a set and two breaks, Swiatek just held on to her service for the remainder of the match to complete a two-set win. Swiatek is now three wins away from winning her second title this clay season. Last week, Swiatek kicked off her clay season by winning Stuttgart.
So far in Madrid, Swiatek has yet to drop a set. In her next Madrid match, Swiatek plays against either Qinwen Zheng or Ekaterina Alxandrova.