World number one Iga Swiatek was eliminated from the Miami Open, after losing to Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2.
Alexandrova played brilliant attacking tennis from the start to beat the Pole.
Not only Swiatek, Miami was also without one of the top three seeds in the quarter-finals with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff also eliminated.
Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia eliminated world number three Gauff by beating the American 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
Meanwhile, world number two Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out by Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.
Swiatek never looked comfortable after Alexandrova broke serve in the opening game and took control of the match with some superb, attacking tennis.
Also read: Winning the 100th WTA 1000 match in her career, Iga Swiatek advances to the Miami Open
Swiatek only managed one break point in the match, but Alexandrova saved it to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
After trailing by a set in the previous round against Linda Noskova, Swiatek felt confident she could turn things around, but her Russian opponent didn’t want to make a mistake.
She managed to break serve in the second set, breaking for 2-1 with a stunning cross-court return and ending the match with 31 winners to Swiatek’s 11.
Also read: Iga Swiatek Advances to Qatar Open Quarter Finals
Alexandrova laughed off suggestions that she had played a perfect match, but of course she would not take her performance for granted.
“It was a great match for me in terms of consistency, serving, returns, play from the baseline, I think it was quite good and I hope I can maintain it for the next match,” Alexandrova.
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina beat American Madison Keys 6-3, 7-5 to face Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals.
Sakkari cruised to a walkover win after Anna Kalinskaya had to withdraw before their match on Monday due to a right thigh injury.
Victoria Azarenka also advanced with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Britain’s Katie Boulter. (AFP/Ndf/Z-7)
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