🎾 WTA Madrid R2: Iga Swiatek vs Alexandra Eala

🎾 WTA Madrid R2: Iga Swiatek vs Alexandra Eala

🧠 Form & Context

Iga Swiatek
🇵🇱 Title drought under scrutiny: The four-time Roland-Garros champion enters Madrid with questions swirling. She hasn't reached a final since June 2024, and her quarterfinal loss to Ostapenko in Stuttgart—on clay—was particularly jarring.
📉 Vulnerability at the top: Still a dominant force, but cracks have appeared. Her performances in key matches—especially against big hitters like Rybakina and Ostapenko—have exposed tactical hesitation.
📍 Madrid strength: 13–2 lifetime at Caja Mágica. She’s been clinical in early rounds here, and rarely falters before the business end.
🛡️ Reset mode: Swiatek is 22–7 on the year and uses openers like this to re-establish rhythm and reassert authority.

Alexandra Eala
🇵🇭 Teen on the rise: At just 19, Eala made headlines with a stunning Miami semifinal run, upsetting Ostapenko and Keys—then followed it with a dominant R1 Madrid win over Viktoriya Tomova.
🔥 Holds H2H edge: Beat Swiatek 6–2, 7–5 in Miami—becoming the first non-Top-100 player to beat the Pole since 2020.
📈 Madrid growing pains behind her: After pushing Cirstea to three sets here last year, she now looks more assured at altitude.
🪶 Dangerous underdog: Playing freely, Eala has nothing to lose—and that makes her a threat.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is the rare rematch where the favorite—Swiatek—is also out for redemption. Madrid’s faster clay suits her topspin-heavy game, and she’s likely to approach this match with far more tactical clarity and emotional control than in Miami.

Eala, meanwhile, is fearless. She’s already proven she can disrupt Swiatek’s rhythm with flat, early-struck balls, and her backhand down the line caused real damage in their first meeting. But doing it on clay—and with Iga out for revenge—is a taller task.

Expect Swiatek to test Eala’s footwork and endurance with longer rallies, more margin, and smarter placement—especially on serve. The altitude helps both, but favors the player with patience and court management.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Swiatek in 2 sets
It won’t be a blowout—Eala’s belief is real—but Swiatek’s experience, clay IQ, and tactical adjustments will prove decisive. Look for a close first set followed by a more authoritative close as the world No. 1 steadies her title campaign.