Iga Świątek endured a marathon match against Linda Noskova that stretched for nearly three hours at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami. Despite the arduous battle, the world’s top-ranked player emerged victorious in three sets, securing her berth in the tournament’s elite sixteen.
The start of the Miami match favoured Świątek as Noskova struggled with her serve. Świątek quickly broke Noskova’s serve, but Noskova fought back, taking advantage of Świątek’s errors. A rain delay added drama, but Świątek regained momentum with another breakthrough, leading 5:2 before Noskova levelled the score.
The pivotal moments arrived with the onset of the tie-break. Despite Świątek’s opportunity to close out the set, a misstep led to an agonizing defeat in the tie-break, with Noskova showcasing her resilience to claim it 9:7.
Reinvigorated, Świątek dominated the second set, while Noskova faltered to match her intensity. Capitalizing on her momentum, Świątek broke Noskova’s serve again. Despite a late surge from Noskova, Świątek held on to win the set 6:4.
As the match entered its decisive phase, Świątek continued to battle against both her opponent and her own inner demons. Noskova, sensing an opportunity, also ramped up her efforts. In a contest marked by numerous errors, both players sought the breakthrough that would tilt the balance in their favour. Eventually, it was Świątek who found the crucial breakthrough, propelling her towards a hard-fought victory with a 6:4 triumph in the final set.
With her ticket punched for the fourth round, Świątek braces herself for another challenging encounter, this time against Jekaterina Alexandrova.
🇵🇱 THRILLER DLA IGI ŚWIĄTEK! Polka pokonała Lindę Noskovą 6:7(7), 6:4, 6:4. O awans do ćwierćfinału WTA 1000 w Miami zagra z Ekateriną Alexandrovą. Mecz w nocy z poniedziałku na wtorek nie przed godz. 1:30 czasu polskiego. #czasnatenis
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) March 25, 2024
🇬🇧 THRILLER FOR IGA ŚWIĄTEK! She beats… pic.twitter.com/LYzAHrkRwu
Iga Świątek – Linda Noskova 2-1 (6-7, 6-4, 6-4)