Swiatek Suffers First 0-6 Set Loss On Clay In Six Years But Still Beats Keys In Madrid

Iga Swiatek had a terrible start in her quarter-final match against Madison Keys at the 2025 Madrid Open, but she was still able to win in three sets.

Swiatek is used to destroying her opponents. She has won at least one set 6-0 in 79 of the professional tennis matches that she has played in her tennis career across the last seven years. But the Pole is not used to being on the receiving end of a bagel.

The 23-year-old has lost a set 0-6 only eight times in her career, and the last time that happened was in 2021. Daria Kasatkina beat her 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 at the Eastbourne International.

Swiatek lost a set 0-6 on clay only twice, with both of those coming at the 2019 Roland Garros. She lost a set 0-6 against Monica Puig, but then rallied back to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-3. However, in the following round, Simona Halep beat her 6-1, 6-0.

Ahead of her match against Keys in Madrid, Swiatek certainly knew what her opponent was capable of, as the American was only two points away from winning a set 6-0 against her at the Australian Open this year.

Although she didn't manage to do it back then, this time, even on Swiatek's favorite surface, Keys bageled the Pole. She was incredibly good in the first set of the match, completely dominating her opponent.

Keys never lost more than two points in any of the games in the opening set, winning it 6-0 in just 24 minutes of play while winning 24 out of 33 points played.

After suffering her first bagel on clay in six years, Swiatek knew holding her serve at the start of the second set was crucial, and she managed to do that, starting with an important hold.

The WTA World No. 2 player had some problems also in her previous match at the event, and like against Diana Shnaider, she was able to be the better player in crucial moments also this time.

Swiatek won four games in a row in the second set to lead 5-1, and even though she failed to serve out the set the first time, she was still able to win it 6-3, forcing a decider.

The third set was a proper battle, with both players winning their service games early on. After four games, the score was tied at 2-2, and that was when Swiatek felt her first chance.

The four-time French Open champion broke Keys' serve, and she was able to do it one more time to win with a bizarre scoreline of 0-6, 6-3, 6-2, reaching the 2025 Madrid Open semi-finals.