The world No.2 believes her clay-court proficiency will prove the difference as she looks to make amends for her shock loss in Miami.
Iga Swiatek eyes revenge against Alexandra Eala in Madrid
Iga Swiatek is eager to exact revenge on Filipino teen Alexandra Eala when the pair meet in the second round of the 2025 Madrid Open on Thursday, and the Polish tennis star is confident her experience on clay will help her do so.
The world No.2 suffered a shock loss to Eala — then ranked No.140 in the world — at the Miami Open last month, falling in straight sets to the 19-year-old on the American hardcourts.
Now, clashing on Swiatek’s favored surface, tennis betting sites price her at just -1000 to level the pair’s head-to-head record in their second meeting.
“I feel like I know this place pretty well, so I’m going to use the experience,” Swiatek said on Wednesday in Madrid.
“But the experience doesn’t play, so I’ve got to approach this match as any other match.
“Doesn’t really matter what happened in Miami.
“Honestly, with Alexandra, like it’s not like we played a lot, so it’s hard for me to say how different it will be.
“I guess I’ll just need to see and adjust.
“We’ll talk for sure about the tactics today with Wim (Fissette, her coach) but I’m not going to predict anything — like, I’m not a wizard.”
Nags.bet has Swiatek at a -6.5-game handicap (+100) heading into the clash, with the contest priced at -120.48 to end in under 18.5 games.Top bookmakers have her level with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka as joint favorites at +300 to win the tournament after the pair met in the past two finals of the Madrid Open.
Swiatek says she is feeling good on the surface and is enjoying playing “logical” tennis.
“At the beginning (when you get back on clay) you have many things to focus on in terms of adjusting your game, so it’s nice to have these first days and first week of just grinding and practicing,” she said.
“I love that, especially on clay, because tennis, for me, it’s the most logical there, and also you can be more creative in terms of the tactics and everything, so I really enjoy that.
“I think when I feel like I can use this on a match court, for sure I am more relaxed.
“I just know my weapons, I know I always have a plan B in my defense, which sometimes is impossible on faster hard courts, for example.
“So I just use that and it gives me confidence for sure.”
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