Madrid Open 2025 After a day of unexpected delays caused by a city-wide blackout in Madrid, Iga Swiatek returned to the court not just to resume play, but to survive an intense three-set thriller against rising star Diana Shnaider. The match was a rollercoaster, and Swiatek’s eventual 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 win secured her spot in the quarterfinals — but not without a genuine scare.
For the first 22 minutes of the match, it looked like Swiatek would breeze through. The world No. 1 fired on all cylinders, blanking Shnaider 6-0 in a ruthless first set that showcased her signature clay-court dominance. Her depth, timing, and topspin looked too much for the 20-year-old Russian to handle.
But tennis is nothing if not unpredictable.
Shnaider, seeded 13th and playing with nothing to lose, quickly regrouped. In the second set, she started going for her shots, moving Swiatek around the court and dictating with her forehand. Suddenly, the match flipped. Swiatek began to look more human—her unforced errors creeping up and her rhythm slightly off. Shnaider capitalized and pushed the second set into a tiebreaker, where she held her nerve and pulled off a stunning 7-3 win.
The final set became a test of mental endurance. Shnaider had chances—13 break points across the match, to be exact—but Swiatek, showing the poise of a Grand Slam champion, saved 11 of them. Each hold felt like a mini-victory, especially under the weight of expectation. With the match in the balance, it was Swiatek who broke at the perfect time and then served it out in 2 hours and 34 minutes of pulsating tennis.
“Matches like this are what you train for,” Swiatek said afterward. “You can’t expect every round to be easy, especially in Madrid with the altitude and against players like Diana who come out swinging. She pushed me.”
The win is significant not just for the title defense, but for what it represents. This marks Swiatek’s 17th consecutive clay-court quarterfinal—a streak that stretches back to 2021. Only Martina Hingis has a longer streak in the modern era. Despite not making it past the semifinals since last year’s French Open, Swiatek continues to show why she’s the favorite on clay.
Up next? A mouthwatering rematch against Madison Keys, the No. 5 seed and reigning Australian Open champion. Their last encounter saw Swiatek lose from match point up in Melbourne—a rare collapse. This time, she’ll be out for redemption, especially on her preferred surface. Swiatek leads their head-to-head 4-2, including a flawless 3-0 on clay.
Meanwhile, Diana Shnaider may have lost the match, but she won plenty of hearts. Her fearless style, combined with raw talent and grit, signals that she’s a name to watch closely this season. Pushing the world No. 1 to the limit is no small feat, especially in a premier clay event.
As the Madrid Open heads into the business end, Swiatek remains the player to beat—but as Tuesday’s match reminded everyone, even champions get tested. What matters is how they respond.
And once again, Swiatek responded like a true champion.
