Swiatek retires from Madrid Open in third round, Zverev & Sabalenka progress

[p]A champion in the Spanish capital in 2024, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Swiatek[/a] rebounded from a one-set deficit against American 31st seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/li-ann/rwvAgOWm/"]Ann Li[/a] to level the contest but put an end to proceedings while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/li-a-rwvAgOWm/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=dWGLM2bs"]down 0-3 in the decider.[/a][/p][p]The Polish six-time Grand Slam champion asked for the doctor after getting broken early in the third set and got her vitals checked.[/p][p]She tried to break Li back, but when her opponent held for a 3-0 advantage, the fourth seed realised she was unable to continue.[/p][p]She revealed after the match that she has been fighting a stomach virus for the last two days and was hoping she could still find a way to win despite feeling "terrible."[/p][p][b]"I heard there is something going on between players, that the virus is somewhere on site. I'm sure I'll be fine in a couple of days, but I had zero energy and zero stability and just felt really bad physically, and yesterday even worse,"[/b] said Swiatek.[/p][embed guid="e3a74c36-7477-4d4c-a8a9-4c9db9cc5e6e" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048059486984683830" social-type="twitter" /][p]It is Swiatek's earliest ever exit in five appearances in Madrid.[/p][p][b]"On the court before the tournament, I felt like I'm playing great, so actually it's sad for me that I can't play, because I was feeling really good with my game, and I was moving forward in the process, so, this was positive,"[/b] she said.[/p][p][b]"But for me, the tournament has just started, and I couldn't even compete today, so it's disappointing."[/b][/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] surged into the last 16 with a smooth [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cristian-j-a-vo9FVe2A/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=fqY9Jwb5"]6-1, 6-4 victory[/a] against Romania's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cristian-jaqueline/vo9FVe2A/"]Jaqueline Cristian[/a], who told her at the net she was "too good" and that she hopes the world number one would go on and win the tournament.[/p][p]Sabalenka played a near-flawless opening set, winning 89 per cent of her points on serve.[/p][embed guid="2320a4cc-6ae0-462c-9646-d5f6c394e940" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA1t7l7FhUs" social-type="youtube" /][p]Cristian put up a bigger fight in the second set, but Sabalenka got the decisive break in the ninth game en route to a convincing win.[/p][p]The three-time Madrid champion, who next plays ex-world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a] (who later beat Ukrainian qualifier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kalinina-anhelina/zNoTPac0/"]Anhelina Kalinina[/a]), is known for her power game, but she showcased some flair against Cristian, pulling off a running one-handed backhand passing shot in the first set and finishing the contest with a cunning drop shot winner.[/p][p][b]"Especially in the first set, that was incredible level from me. I even hit a one-handed backhand, which is a little bit crazy," said the four-time major winner. "I think that was the shot of my life, that's for sure."[/b][/p][embed guid="3db22f0e-b08f-41c8-9766-35a644fc5fc5" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048131936158105726" social-type="twitter" /][p]Earlier in the day, 15th-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jovic-iva/bmWvBlnL/"]Iva Jovic[/a] squandered a lead and fell [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fernandez-l-a-8EI3pJOd/jovic-i-bmWvBlnL/?mid=v1FXmtPa"]3-6, 6-3, 6-2[/a] to Canadian 24th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-leylah-annie/8EI3pJOd/"]Leylah Fernandez[/a], who will be Li's opponent in the last 16.[/p][h2]Wins for Andreeva, Zverev & Ruud[/h2][p]Ninth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva overcame an inspired [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/galfi-dalma/dGbzUtWd/"]Dalma Galfi[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/galfi-d-dGbzUtWd/?mid=fVjaT8r9"]6-3, 6-2[/a] in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggested.[/p][p]The Hungarian qualifier ranked 117 in the world broke early in both sets but was unable to maintain her advantage as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a] recovered to improve her clay-court record this season to 9-1 and set up a last-16 showdown with another Hungarian, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bondar-anna/O8s9yjMD/"]Anna Bondar[/a].[/p][embed guid="4be1b155-8d92-4280-9bb9-316bcdcadedf" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkSyvDgBFTU" social-type="youtube" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/madrid/"]Follow the women's side in Madrid here[/a][/b].[/p][p]In ATP action, defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] raced into the third round with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/munar-j-zZieQm4D/ruud-c-zN9UpRqp/?mid=ETYjfST8"]6-0, 6-1[/a] demolition of home favourite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munar-jaume/zZieQm4D/"]Jaume Munar[/a].[/p][p]The 12th-seeded Norwegian will next take on Spain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davidovich-fokina-alejandro/0zQXLfz4/"]Alejandro Davidovich Fokina[/a].[/p][p]Second-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] recovered from a "terrible" second set to begin his campaign with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/navone-m-YoPUeL3o/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=AHLvAVPN"]6-1, 3-6, 6-3[/a] performance against recent Bucharest champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/navone-mariano/YoPUeL3o/"]Mariano Navone[/a].[/p][p][b]"First set was almost perfect, and then I lost focus completely, and then the second set was terrible,"[/b] admitted Zverev, who previously clinched the trophy in Madrid in 2018 and 2021.[/p][p][b]"But that's what happens sometimes, first match of a tournament. I definitely have to focus a bit better, but the level was there."[/b][/p][embed guid="954d19b1-8e66-4d2b-9407-05cf2daecb63" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2048067915388235806" social-type="twitter" /][p]Zverev will next square off with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atmane-terence/6mkEQ279/"]Terence Atmane[/a], who overcame excruciating cramps to triumph in an all-French duel [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/atmare-t-6mkEQ279/humbert-u-O4ywE5Ah/?mid=rqwlEGeT"]7-6(3), 7-6(5)[/a] over 30th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humbert-ugo/O4ywE5Ah/"]Ugo Humbert[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/madrid/"]Follow the men's side in Madrid here.[/a][/b][/p]