Madrid Open 2023: Swiatek into last 16 after ‘tricky’ clash against Pera

Iga Swiatek, warming up for the defence of her French Open title, claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over 29th seed Bernarda Pera for a sixth consecutive victory on clay this season.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action against Bernarda Pera of USA in the third round of the Madrid Open on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

World number one Iga Swiatek claimed she had endured a “tricky” afternoon despite easing to a straight-sets win over American left-hander Bernarda Pera to reach the Madrid Open last 16 on Sunday.

Swiatek, warming up for the defence of her French Open title, claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over 29th seed Pera for a sixth consecutive victory on clay this season.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy. Every match is tricky here,” Swiatek said after her 75-minute outing.

“I’m happy that I’m getting my rhythm. Playing against a lefty is never easy ... but I’m pretty happy that I was disciplined and focused.”

Swiatek next faces either Chinese 22nd seed Zheng Qinwen, who was the only player to take a set off her at Roland Garros last year, or 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Also progressing to the fourth round on Sunday was world number three Jessica Pegula who clinched a gruelling 6-4, 7-6(2) victory over Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.

Pegula, 29, made the final in Madrid in 2022 where she lost to Ons Jabeur. She will now tackle Italy’s Martina Trevisan on Monday for a quarterfinal spot.

Later Sunday, defending men’s champion and world number two Carlos Alcaraz continues his bid to win a 10th tour title before his 20th birthday when he faces Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

World number seven Holger Rune, who left his teenage years behind on Saturday, faces Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Rune, making his tournament debut this year, had to save a match point in the last round against Alexander Bublik.

Two-time champion Alexander Zverev of Germany needed just 56 minutes to dispose of France’s Hugo Grenier 6-1, 6-0 on the back of six breaks of serve and 26 winners.

He will face either Alcaraz or Dimitrov for a quarterfinal place.

“Both are great players,” said Zverev. “It’s going to be difficult no matter who it is against. Of course with Carlos that would be a matchup people would look forward to.

“We played in the final here last year, played a massive match at Roland Garros before I got injured.”

Zverev holds a 3-1 record against Alcaraz with their last meeting coming in that quarter-final clash at the 2022 French Open.