Defending champion Iga Swiatek edges past on Alexandra Eala to reach third round

Defending Madrid champion Iga Swiatek lives to fight another day.

The women’s tennis world number two opened her 2025 Madrid Open campaign with a vengeance victory against 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, whom she came back to defeat 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round on Thursday (24 April).

Their rematch came a month after Eala’s shock win against Swiatek, who was one of three Grand Slam champions she had taken out on her path to the Miami Open semi-finals. This time it went the way of the Polish star, who had to dig deep to progress to the next round.

Eala proved she meant business by breaking the 2024 champion in the opening game and racing into a 3-1 lead, while attempts from Swiatek to unsettle her teenage opponent resulted in a slew of unforced errors.

The Filipina starlet saved a break point before delivering a superb ace to extend her lead to 4-2, followed by a second converted break point of the match. Though Swiatek reduced the deficit with a break of her own, inconsistent service allowed Eala to hold on for a stunning opening set.

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