Madrid Open: Iga Swiatek hammers Veronika Kudermetova and is ‘pumped up’ for Aryna Sabalenka final showdown

Iga Swiatek hammered Veronika Kudermetova to set up a Madrid Open final showdown with Aryna Sabalenka.

Swiatek has been in ominous form this week and she continued that against Kudermetova, controlling the encounter from the outset and setting up an appealing final against world No. 2 Sabalenka.

“I’m pumped up for more,” Swiatek said after her win. “I think it’s going to be a nice final. Playing against Aryna is always pretty tough.

“You have to be intensive and keep your focus. I’m sure I’m going to be ready for the final.”

Swiatek won the first six points of her meeting with Kudermetova, taking her own service game to start off and then bringing up three break points straight after on Kudermetova’s delivery.

The Russian got on the board for 3-1, with her shoulders visibly lifting with relief, but that was to be her only game as Swiatek steamrollered her way to the set, with just the one alarm in the penultimate game when she gave up a break point – but her opponent was unable to cash in.

Kudermetova battled hard as set two got underway, but in the third game she committed a number of unforced errors as Swiatek turned the screw, the Pole breaking to go 2-1 up.

Swiatek rattled through the next to extend her advantage, and then she had her opponent in more trouble with two break points.

She grabbed the second of those to make it 4-1, and the match looked over.

There was, however, no question of Kudermetova downing tools and she had as many as four break points as Swiatek served for 5-1, but she passed them up, and the world No. 1 was able to wrap up that game, and then close out the next game with a third break of the set.

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