Tennis stars Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka make progress in competition.
MADRID SCOOP - The Caja Magica tennis arena flickered back to life on Tuesday, reviving the Madrid Open into a jam-packed day of action. Top contender Iga Swiatek continued her march towards the quarterfinals, reveling in a more laid-back atmosphere brought on by Monday's citywide power outage.
In the wake of the blackout that compelled 22 matches to be postponed, Swiatek confidently triumphed over Diana Shnaider, demonstrating a resilient performance despite saving 11 out of 13 break chances[4]. Swiatek's victory kept her on track for title defense in the Spanish capital, after having cruised through her first set.
The reigning world No.2's comrade-in-arms, Aryna Sabalenka, smoothly glided into the last eight by besting Peyton Stearns 6-2, 6-4. On the male side, top-seeded Alexander Zverev encountered an unlikely setback, succumbing to Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 7-5, 6-3[3].
On her day off, Swiatek reveled in the surprise break, partaking in some well-deserved R&R at her hotel. Appreciating the unexpected downtime, she confessed, "It was nice, I liked it. There was no signal, so essentially no one used their phones[3]."
Though most of Madrid recovered power overnight, Caja Magica's stadium remained dark heading into Tuesday. However, power was promptly restored, allowing fans to enter at their usual interval and avoiding significant schedule alterations[3].
Swiatek's triumphant run continues as she remains unbeaten before the quarterfinals in seven tournaments this season[3]. But the road to the medal stand has proven narrow for the Ace Player, as she's failed to progress beyond the semifinals since Roland Garros last year.
Following the unexpected pause, competitors seemed to appreciate the reprieve, with Daniil Medvedev and others acknowledging the unforeseen hiatus offered them some much-needed rest or distance from their phones[3].
References:- [3] AP, "Madrid Open resumes with role reversal as top seeds falter"- [4] Reuters, "Swiatek rallies to reach Madrid Open quarterfinals"- [5] BBC, "Madrid Open: Iga Swiatek reaches quarter-finals after difficult win"
On Wednesday, top-seeded Alexander Zverev might experience an unexpected chance for redemption in his tennis session at the Caja Magica, following his upset against Francisco Cerundolo on the previous day. Iga Swiatek, currently on a seven-tournament winning streak before the quarterfinals this season, could face some stiff competition. If she advances, she'll be looking to overcome her roadblock and progress beyond the semifinals, a challenge she hasn't managed since Roland Garros last year. With a more relaxed atmosphere and renewed energy, Swiatek's rivals, like Daniil Medvedev, might find themselves ready for a challenging sports outing on that day.
