Swiatek ousted at Miami Open

– World No 1 Iga Swiatek (above) was knocked out of the Miami Open after inspired Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova triumphed 6-4, 6-2 in their fourth round match on Monday.

The 16th seed Alexandrova played brilliant attacking tennis from the outset to beat the Pole and leave the WTA tournament without any of the top three seeds in the quarterfinals, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff also out.

France’s Caroline Garcia upset world No 3 Gauff, beating the American 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, while world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka had been eliminated by Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina on Saturday.

The match was the first in which Swiatek has not broken serve since her defeat to Ash Barty in Adelaide in January, 2022.

“I just feel disappointed, for sure, because I thought I was going to play better here in Miami. But she played an amazing match and for sure was the better player out there today,” said the 22-yearold, four-time Grand Slam winner.

Swiatek said she had a hard time reading Alexandrova’s serve but felt that things just hadn’t clicked for her in the tournament.

“I was feeling that I couldn’t play in a natural way but it’s not like I always feel comfortable on court. I thought I would be able to work through that,” she said.

Alexandrova laughed off the suggestion that she had played a perfect match but was certainly not going to downplay her performance.

“It was such a great game for me in consistency, the serve, the returns, the playing from the baseline, I think it was pretty good and I hope I can keep it for the next match,” she said.

Garcia, who had beaten fourtimes Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in straight sets on Sunday, continued her inspired form as she defeated Gauff on her home court in one hour and 43 minutes.

After a thrilling encounter, which ebbed and flowed, Garcia, ranked 27th in the world, emerged to face a last-eight meeting with American Danielle Collins, who defeated Romanian Sorana Cirstea in straight sets.

Gauff, who hails from South Florida, was disappointed not to have progressed further in front of a home crowd. “It is a tough loss,” she said,

“She played aggressive, which I knew coming in. I think it was important for me to just change the height of the ball.” –