'She knows how to play on clay,' Iga Swiatek seems all set to face her next challenge Beatriz Haddad Maia in Madrid

The Pole will next face Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia , who stormed past Maria Sakkari. After her win over Sorribes Tormo, the four-time Grand Slam champion said that though she has not kept an eye on Maia’s matches, she is anticipating another tough encounter with the Brazilian. 

Honestly, I haven’t watched her matches lately. Tactically, my coach is going to help me and analyze. We’ve played plenty of really tough matches against each other. So it’s not going to be easy. She’s always a really tough player, and she knows how to play on clay. I’ll focus on myself and I’ll be ready. Iga Swiatek said after the match

Iga Swiatek has not won the Madrid Open title yet

The only title on clay Iga Swiatek has not won at WTA 1000 or above is the Madrid Open. She was the runner-up last year to Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated the Pole in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. 

Swiatek now has a big task at her hands in the quarterfinal. She and Beatriz Haddad Maia met three times, with the former winning two matches.

Their first encounter was at the 2022 Canadian Open where the Brazilian defeated Swiatek in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. They then faced in last year’s French Open where the Pole avenged her defeat 6-2, 7-6. This year, Swiatek clinched the win at the United Cup over the 27-year-old 6-2, 6-2.

The 22-year-old Pole has won two titles this season, at the Qatar Open by beating Elena Rybakina and at the Indian Wells by winning over Maria Sakkari. Haddad Maia is still searching for her first title of the season and has yet to reach the final as well. Her best performance came at the Abu Dhabi Open by reaching the semifinals and lost to Daria Kasatkina in three sets.