Iga Swiatek is going through very difficult days ahead of the US Open. A week after being knocked out by Bia Haddad at the WTA 1000 in Toronto, the leader of the rankings once again bid farewell in the round of 16 of a tournament, now at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, in a loss to the American Madison Keys, this Thursday. , by 6/3 and 6/4.

It was American revenge. When Indian Wells opened in April, the Pole humbled her, scoring 6/1 and 6/0 in just 56 minutes. Playing in her country again, she even opened 5-0 in the second set to return that tire. Failed, but closed with 6/4 on his fifth match point. Iga left the court very unhappy with a towel on his head hiding his face.

The first set was tied until 3-3, when Keys tied three straight, breaking Polish serve twice. Excited, the American opened 5-0 in the next set with two more breaks. Nothing is going well for the world number 1.

As is often the case in tennis, however, Keys was nervous when it came time to close and allowed Swiatek to react, who fell 5-4, dismissing both breaks. The Pole went to serve to equalise. But the American had a perfect game and closed it on the fifth occasion after the ball touched the net and left the decisive blow easy.

“I’m really happy. I lost a few chances to close but I managed to win. Our last game was disastrous and now I can play well and win,” celebrated Keys, who beat for the first time a leader in the standings in her career. Against the Pole, she came out of two consecutive defeats.

In addition to Swiatek, other favorites also bid farewell early in Cincinnati on Thursday. Second-seeded Anett Kontaveit took over from China’s Zhang Shuai, with 2/6, 6/4 and 6/4. The Estonian tennis player had already suffered in her debut.

The Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 5th in the lead, is also absent. She fell to Czech Petra Kvitova with partials of 6/1, 4/6 and 6/0. Elena Rybakina passed Alison Riske with 6/2 and 6/4.

MEDVEDEV WIN ANOTHER

The top of the standings assured after the elimination of Rafael Nadal on Wednesday, the Russian Daniil Medvedev entered a calmer court and added another triumph in Cincinnati, this time against the Canadian Denis Shapolanov, with a double 7/5. A qualification for the quarter-finals would be enough to retain first place. He now challenges American Taylor Fritz, who won the battle against Russian Andrey Rublev, by 6/7 (4/7), 6/2 and 7/5.

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas proved his favoritism against Argentina’s Diego Schuwartzman, advancing with a 6/3 brace.