Camille Naredo

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their women's singles final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fourteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2024.

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves to Italy's Jasmine Paolini during their women's singles final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fourteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2024. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP)

Article (news)

TENNIS

Dyan Castillejo

MADRID, Spain -- Defending champion Iga Swiatek is not dwelling on the result of the Miami Open as she opens her title defense in Madrid against Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala.Eala memorably stunned world No. 2 Swiatek in Miami in late March, in what was the highlight of the Filipina&#x27;s historic run to the semifinals of the WTA1000 event.But Swiatek is keen to move past that upset as she competes in the clay courts, where she has been the dominant force in women&#x27;s tennis in the past half-decade.&quot;I feel like I know this place pretty well, so I&#x27;m going to use the experience,&quot; Swiatek said ahead of the match, set for Thursday night, Manila time. &quot;But the experience doesn&#x27;t play, so I got to approach this match as any other match.&quot;&quot;Doesn&#x27;t really matter what happened in Miami,&quot; she added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/4/24/tennis-swiatek-glad-for-high-expectations-ahead-of-madrid-title-defense-1403">READ: Swiatek glad for high expectations ahead of Madrid title defense</a></div>Still, Swiatek refrained from making any predictions.&quot;I mean, honestly, with Alexandra, like it&#x27;s not like we played a lot, so it&#x27;s hard for me to say. I guess I&#x27;ll just need to see and adjust,&quot; Swiatek said. &quot;I&#x27;m not going to predict anything, like I&#x27;m not a wizard,&quot; she added. Though she hasn&#x27;t yet played a match in Madrid this year, Swiatek says she&#x27;s feeling ready to face Eala: &quot;On the practice court I feel great, so we&#x27;ll see how it looks in the matches.&quot;

Defending champion Iga Swiatek is not dwelling on the result of the Miami Open as she opens her title defense in Madrid against Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek is not dwelling on the result of the Miami Open as she opens her title defense in Madrid against Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala.

Tennis: Iga Swiatek banks on clay court experience in rematch vs. Alex Eala

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Tennis: Iga Swiatek banks on clay court experience in rematch vs. Alex Eala

Dyan Castillejo

Published April 24, 2025 07:43 PM PHT

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