(Cincinnati) The world No.1 Iga Swiatek, winner of the last Roland-Garros, was eliminated in the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, dominated 6-3, 6-4 by the American Madison Keys (24e), winner of the event in 2019.
Posted at 3:51 p.m.
Eleven days before the United States Open (August 29-September 11), the 21-year-old Polish, so irresistible and dominant in the spring – evidenced by her 37 straight victories which allowed her to win in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome and Paris — is just a shadow of itself.
Already eliminated at the same stadium by the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia last week in Toronto, then conceding her first defeat in fourteen games on American hard surfaces, she was only deluded with her back to the wall in the second round.
Trailing 5-0, she saved a match point on her serve, avoiding eating a humiliating ” donut “. Another burst followed by two debreaks to only trail 5-4.
And the public around the central to witness an astonishing return, Keys often giving in to panic in the exchanges.
Finally, the 27-year-old American, so solid before this air pocket, found the keys to her game and was able to conclude by stealing Swiatek’s serve for the third time, decidedly too intermittent.
Keys will face Kazakh Elena Rybakina (25e) in the quarterfinals.