World No. 1 Iga Swiatek suffered a stunning upset at the Miami Open when she lost to motivated Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2 in their fourth-round encounter on Monday. With none of the top three seeds making it to the quarterfinals, Swiatek's loss increases the unpredictable nature of the competition.
16th seed Alexandrova showcased brilliant attacking tennis right from the start, seizing control of the match with aggressive play. Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm after conceding an early break, as Alexandrova dominated proceedings with her outstanding performance.
Despite Swiatek's efforts to mount a comeback, Alexandrova remained resolute, displaying remarkable consistency and control. With an impressive display of 31 winners compared to Swiatek's 11, Alexandrova secured a convincing victory.
Reflecting on her defeat, Swiatek expressed disappointment but acknowledged Alexandrova's superior performance. The four-time Grand Slam winner found it challenging to read Alexandrova's serve and admitted to struggling to find her natural game throughout the tournament.
Alexandrova, while acknowledging her strong performance, emphasized her focus on maintaining consistency for the upcoming matches. She is set to face fifth-seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.
In another thrilling match, France's Caroline Garcia continued her inspired form by defeating world number three Coco Gauff in a hard-fought battle. Garcia's victory, following her win against Naomi Osaka, sets up a quarter-final clash against the winner of Sorana Cirstea and Danielle Collins.
Gauff, disappointed with her loss, credited Garcia's aggressive play and expressed frustration over her inability to capitalize on momentum shifts during the match.
The Miami Open witnessed further action as fourth seed Elena Rybakina advanced with a victory over Madison Keys, while Maria Sakkari progressed due to a walkover. Victoria Azarenka also secured her spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding win over Katie Boulter.
As the tournament progresses, the Miami Open continues to deliver captivating matches and unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats with every match.
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