Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defence / Photo: Thomas COEX - AFP
-
Swiss vote on what it means to be neutral
-
UK Labour party meets buoyed by Burnham but eager for concrete plans
-
Pope to meet with victims of clerical sex abuse during France trip
-
Thousands protest ahead of Mexican president's report on missing students
-
Iran stands firm on Hormuz plan after US rejection
-
Bangkok floods force thousands into shelters
-
Madrid protest camp grows after eviction outrage
-
AI startup urges optimism from Europe despite safety fears
-
Italy winemakers hail bumper harvest but cut output
-
'Godlike, invincible': Japan hails 11-year-old Games history-maker
-
Kyiv shoppers feel the pinch from Russian strikes
-
Nepal's hydropower ambitions face climate reality check
-
Japanese anime actor fights TikTok over AI voice cloning
-
Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable
-
Curtain falls on the romance of India's single-screen cinemas
-
Internationals keep Presidents Cup lead with late fightbacks
-
Smells like teen spirit as US thrash Peru 4-1
-
Tuchel to 'keep pushing' England to reach Spain's level
-
Cavy chaos: Hundreds attend New Zealand's biggest guinea pig show
-
Alcaraz saves match points to keep Europe ahead in Laver Cup
-
Venezuela releases more political prisoners after opposition talks
-
Spain success driven by hunger to improve, says De La Fuente
-
England's best 'for a long time' despite Spain defeat, says Kane
-
Lyon collapse at Stade Francais to suffer first Top 14 loss
-
Powerful storm pummels northeast US with rain, high winds
-
Oyarzabal and Spain sink England again as Modric shines for Croatia
-
Filmmaker Mike Leigh wins top prize at Spain festival with 'last film'
-
Housing protesters camp in central Madrid after mass demonstration
-
Spain beat England in Nations League to extend unbeaten run
-
Louise Trotter expands her palette at Bottega Veneta
-
Ireland squad vote to play Israel tie despite Gaza unease
-
Pope prays at Lourdes after huge Paris mass
-
Gutsy Vollering wins cycling road race world title
-
USA trims International lead after Presidents Cup four-balls
-
Vollering wins cycling road race world title
-
Russia accuses Europe of blocking Ukraine talks, as strikes drag on
-
Man City's meteoric rise clouded by dark shadow
-
'He said hello': Families pray with pope on Paris avenue
-
Mbappe out for two weeks or more with knee injury say Real
-
Pope celebrates giant Paris mass, flies to Lourdes
-
Lyon collapse away to Stade and suffer first Top 14 loss
-
Thousands march in Madrid over eviction of 87-year-old woman
-
Russia accuses Europe of seeking to thwart Ukraine talks
-
England women back to winning ways with last-gasp defeat of New Zealand
-
Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges
-
Trump rejects Iran proposal for deal to reopen Hormuz
-
Germany ready to 'walk through fire' for Klopp, says Tah
-
England's Cox says injured Buttler leaves 'big shoes to fill'
-
At least 16 killed in Russian and Ukrainian strikes
-
Ruthless Perpignan upset sloppy Bordeaux-Begles
Swiatek survives Eala scare to start Madrid Open defence
Defending Madrid Open champion Iga Swiatek survived a debut scare to beat rising teenage star Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the third round in the Spanish capital.
The 19-year-old Filipina, who beat Swiatek in straight sets on a shock run to the Miami Open semi-finals in March, claimed the first set as the world number two struggled.
Swiatek, who has been below her best so far this season, found her rhythm in the second set and eventually downed Eala, ranked 72nd, with ease in the third.
"It wasn't easy to get into the rhythm and the right timing and I'm happy that I was just patient," Swiatek told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
"I always love playing here, for sure I'm proud of my performances in the last two years."
Eala broke Swiatek in the first game and produced two battling holds on her first two service games, saving two break points in each as the Pole hunted for a way back in.
The exciting Filipina saved another break point in the sixth game before breaking Swiatek to love for a 5-2 lead in the Madrid sun.
Clay court expert Swiatek recovered a break but Eala was able to serve out her advantage, capturing her third set point when the five-time Grand Slam champion sent a backhand long.
Swiatek only converted one of six first-set break points against the resilient Eala, who won both of hers.
The teenager again broke in the first game of the second set, but this time Swiatek, who has four French Open titles, was able to respond immediately.
When Eala broke again for a 3-2 lead, Swiatek followed suit to get back on serve, with the Pole raising her level towards the end of the second set.
She broke to love in the 10th game to force a deciding set and sped through it, securing breaks in the second and sixth games.
Eala wrestled a break back and saved a match point as Swiatek overcooked a backhand, but eventually the reigning champion triumphed as the teenager went long.
Swiatek will face Czech Linda Noskova in the third round.
In other matches, Anastasija Sevastova ousted 2017 French Open winner and Latvian compatriot Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. Ostapenko beat Swiatek in the Stuttgart quarter-finals last week.
L.Davis--AMWN