WTA Madrid 2025: Świątek starts title defense, Fręch advances to next round

Iga Świątek, ranked No. 2 in the world, starts her defense of the title at WTA Madrid with a match against Alexandra Eala on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Iga Świątek

PAP/DPA/Marijan Murat

The Polish tennis star will face the 19-year-old from the Philippines in the opening round of the tournament she won last year.

This second-round match will also offer Świątek a chance for revenge after her unexpected loss to Eala at the Miami Open in late March. It was the first time since 2021 that Świątek lost to a player ranked outside the top 100.

"I have to approach this match like any other. Honestly, what happened in Miami doesn't really matter," Świątek said during a press conference.

Iga Świątek zaczyna turniej w Madrycie od trudnych pytań ? #Madrid #WTAMadrid https://t.co/VBr6i26JLg

— SPORT | PolskieRadio24.pl (@sport_pr24pl) April 24, 2025

Earlier on Thursday, Polish tennis player Magdalena Fręch advanced to the next round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid. Fręch, ranked 27th, defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in a thrilling match.

For Fręch, the match was her first in Madrid after receiving a bye in the first round. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 69th in the world, had previously beaten Egypt's Mayar Sherif in the opening round.

?￰ﾟﾇﾱ MAGDALENA FRĘCH W TRZECIEJ RUNDZIE! Polka pokonała Jessicę Bouzas Maneiro 5:7, 7:6(2), 6:4. O awans do czwartej rundy WTA 1000 w Madrycie zagra z Mirrą Andreevą lub Marie Bouzkovą.

?￰ﾟﾇﾧ MAGDALENA FRĘCH IN THE R3! She beats Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 5:7, 7:6(2), 6:4. For the R3 of… pic.twitter.com/0NV2VEIDqe

— Z kortu - informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) April 24, 2025

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Source: IAR/PAP/X/@sport_pr24pl/@z_kortu