Swiatek, Zverev, Rublev and Alcaraz advance to the next round

(Madrid) Iga Swiatek once again made it look like success came easily for her at the Madrid Open, reaching the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Bernarda Pera on Sunday.

World No. 1 Swiatek conceded just one break of serve and capitalized on four of her 13 opportunities against the 32-ranked American^e in the world.

Swiatek had defeated Julia Grabher by the same score in her first game in Madrid. The Pole won six duels in a row in her season on clay while losing only one set.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy,” Swiatek said. “Every game is complicated here. I’m happy to find my rhythm. It’s never easy to play against a lefty […], but I’m glad I stayed disciplined and focused. »

In her next outing, Swiatek will face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, 16^e first in the series. Alexandrova beat China’s Zheng Qinwen, 22^e seeded, in three sets of 5-7, 6-4 and 6-2.

In another match in the women’s singles draw, American Jessica Pegula, world number three, had to work harder to defeat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 7-6 (2).

Pegula saved 12 of the 14 break points she conceded to her rival.

“It was a long and tough match, that’s for sure,” admitted Pegula. “It’s always difficult to play against Marie. We always have long and tough matches. I knew it would be very difficult. »

On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev crushed French qualifier Hugo Grenier 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour.

Last year, Zverev lost the final match of the tournament to Carlos Alcaraz, who will be his next opponent in the Spanish capital. Later on Sunday, Alcaraz beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 7-5.

“Today I felt good,” Zverev said. “Maybe Hugo was a little nervous. First time in the third round at a Masters (1000) and that’s big for any player. In general, I’m happy to have kept my composure and made it to the next round. »

Zverev, who had 26 game-winning shots and six service breaks, triumphed in Madrid in 2018 and 2021. He has a career record of 21-3 at this tournament and has made it to at least the quarters of final in his last five appearances in Madrid.

After a tough first game that ended in three sets against Emil Ruusuvuori, Alcaraz made it a little easier for themselves. The Spaniard has only been broken once.

“We didn’t do things well in that first game and it was clear that we had to go back to what we know, which is to attack,” observed Alcaraz.

Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev improved to 10-1 on clay this season with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Yoshihito Nishioka.

Quarter-finalist last year in Madrid, Rublev won the Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago.

In the next round, Rublev will meet compatriot Karen Khachanov, who beat local favorite Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Khachanov, 10^e seeded, won the last three games of a match that lasted almost three hours.