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Pera broke Swiatek's serve in the first set to
take a 2-1 lead, but Swiatek then took over the clay-court
match. She won 16 of the next 20 points over four games to lead
5-2. That early break was the only one Pera would get in the
match, while Swiatek converted four of her 13 break
opportunities.
Swiatek committed just nine unforced errors compared to 25 for
Pera.
"I wouldn't say it was easy. Every match is tricky here,"
Swiatek said after the match. "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."
Next up for Swiatek is No. 16 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of
Russia, who defeated No. 22 seed Qinwen Zheng of China 5-7, 6-4,
6-2.
Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, also moved into the Round of 16,
but it wasn't easy. The American was forced to fend off a
challenge from Czech Marie Bouzkova to win the 6-4, 7-6 (2)
march in 2 hours, 16 minutes.
Pegula faced 14 break points and fended off 12 of them. She
converted three of her eight break chances on Bouzkova's serve.
It was clear from the outset that the match wouldn't be an easy
one. The first game took more than 14 minutes and 26 points
before Pegula took the deciding point on a forehand winner.
"I think that kind of set the tone for the match, and I was kind
of like, ugh," said Pegula, who lost in the final in Madrid to
Tunisian Ons Jabeur in 2022. "But with Marie, it's always like
that. She always makes you earn it -- a lot. I knew that going
in. I'm just glad I was able to play some really good tennis."
Pegula moved into the Madrid final 16 for the third straight
year. She is 22-7 on the season.
She next will face No. 18 seed Martina Trevisan of Italy, a 7-6
(3), 6-1 winner over Alycia Parks.
Also advancing were No. 8 seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia, No. 11
seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, No. 12 Veronika
Kudermetova of Russia and Croatian Petra Martic, seeded 27th.
--Field Level Media
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