Iga Swiatek admits what was so ‘weird’ about her match against Madison Keys at the Madrid Open after winning

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Iga Swiatek gained some revenge against Madison Keys by winning their Madrid Open quarter-final.

The 23-year-old battled her way to the last eight and faced the toughest test of her campaign so far when she took on the World number five.

This was their first matchup since their epic Australian Open semi-final which Keys prevailed after three pulsating sets.

The roles were reversed on Wednesday in Madrid, as Iga Swiatek came from behind to complete an excellent comeback to book her place in the last four.

Iga Swiatek says what was ‘weird’ about her Madrid Open quarter-final against Madison Keys

Swiatek made a shocking start against Keys, as the American stormed through the first set without losing a game.

This was the first time that the Pole lost a set 6-0 on clay since Simona Halep beat Swiatek 6-1, 6-0 at the 2019 French Open.

But unlike that day in Paris, Swiatek was able to complete the comeback against Keys and post-match she described what she felt was a strange match where both players went back and forth.

“It was one of the weirdest matches I have played,” Swiatek said. “Madison was playing perfectly at the beginning and I wasn’t really connecting with anything but I didn’t feel like I was that bad.

“I felt like I was hitting the ball well, it just went super long most of the time. So I tried to play a bit shorter, put it in and I think I let Madi make a few more mistakes by putting the ball back and then the momentum changed but I’m not sure why.”

On losing the first set 6-0, Swiatek added: “Not good. At least it’s fast, that’s the only positive thing! But for sure being on court and having 0-6 is just weird!”

Iga Swiatek keeps her Madrid Open title defence alive

Swiatek’s victory means she has reached her third successive Madrid Open semi-final.

This is the five-time Grand Slam champion’s 20th WTA 1000 semifinal out of 36 main draw appearances, only Serena Williams reached that landmark in fewer matches with 31.

The World number two claimed the title in the Spanish capital for the first time a year ago following an epic victory against Aryna Sabalenka.

This will be Swiatek’s first title of the season should she lift the trophy once again, and she should remind everyone why she is the game’s best clay court player.