Polish No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek and American No. 4 Coco Gauff bounced back from first-set defeats to win their respective matches in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday in Spain.
Swiatek, the defending champion in Madrid, rallied past Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Eala had defeated Swiatek in straight sets in their first meeting last month in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
Swiatek had six aces to Eala’s three on Thursday and persevered as Eala saved 9 of 16 break points, including 5 of 6 in the first set.
“It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and feel the right timing, so I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek said.