Swiatek, Keys win, set up quarterfinal matchup

Tennis

ROME — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek remained on course for an uncommon Madrid-Rome double after beating Angelique Kerber to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals Monday.

It was a ninth straight win for Swiatek, and the two-time Rome champion will next face Madison Keys after the American eased past Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-1 in a match interrupted by an environmental protest.

Swiatek needed eight set points to secure the opener but had no such problems at the end of the second, sealing a 7-5, 6-3 victory on the first match point when Kerber’s return went wide.

The match against Keys will be a repeat of last week’s Madrid Open semifinal. The German is attempting to become the first woman to win the “dirt double” since Serena Williams in 2013.

Keys’ match in Rome was temporarily suspended at 3-1 in the second set after two protesters jumped onto the court and threw confetti, while others from the environmentalist group glued themselves to the stands.

“As soon as I saw them come over the barrier, my first thought was like, ‘Should I go tackle one of them?’ But I stopped myself,” Keys said. “And then the chair [umpire] started yelling at me to go sit down.

“Unfortunately, it’s starting to become a little bit of a common thing that’s happening.”

The players returned to the locker room and the protesters did not resist when security intervened before police and firefighters also arrived to handle the situation.

Another American is also through to the quarterfinals after third-seeded Coco Gauff rallied to beat Paula Badosa 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Both of the Madrid finalists are out of the men’s tournament after losing their third-round matches.

Last week’s winner, Andrey Rublev, who was seeded fourth in Rome, was upset by French qualifier Alexandre Muller 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for his first win over a top-10 player.

Madrid runner-up Felix Auger-Aliassime was beaten by ninth-seeded Alex De Minaur 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4.

Defending champion and second seed Daniil Medvedev was playing Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic later.

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Atlanta stuns Miami late to force decisive Game 3
Shildt gets extension after Padres’ playoff return
Shakib Al Hasan reported for suspect action during Surrey Championship stint
Rohit: ‘More comfortable’ with match simulation than practice match
Browns place top tackler Owusu-Koramoah on IR

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *