Swiatek avoids another upset against Eala at Madrid Open, Gauff recovers from 0-6 start

MADRID (AP) — This time, Iga Swiatek had the answers against teenage sensation Alexandra Eala.

After a quarterfinal loss to the rising star from the Philippines last month in Miami, Swiatek rallied to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the second round of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

The second-ranked Swiatek, who is the defending Madrid champion, is trying to reach her first final of the season.

“On clay I feel like I have a little bit more advantage sometimes in the situations, where Alexandra could take more advantage on faster hard courts,” the four-time French Open champion said. “I understand that there’s hype about these young players, but you got to be focused on yourself.”

The 19-year-old Eala, a product of Rafael Nadal’s academy, defeated Swiatek in straight sets during her breakthrough run in Miami.

Eala broke Swiatek’s serve early and cruised to victory in the first set at the Caja Magica center court, but the former No. 1 regained her control for the rest of the match, taking advantage of a letdown by her young opponent.

“From the beginning I didn’t play smoothly, but I managed to solve some problems,” said the 23-year-old Swiatek, who was a set and a break down before rallying to victory.

Swiatek has made three semifinal appearances this year, including at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells. She lost her second match in Stuttgart last week, falling against Jelena Ostapenko in three sets.

Before beating Swiatek in Miami, the left-handed Eala had also defeated two other Grand Slam winners — Ostapenko and Madison Keys. Her run ended in the semifinals after a loss to Jessica Pegula.

The last-four appearance in Miami allowed Eala to become the first Filipina to be ranked inside the top 100. She is currently the No. 72.

Coco Gauff got off to a poor start but came back to defeat Dayana Yastremska 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a second-round match.

It was only the second time Gauff won after losing the first set 6-0 in WTA-level events. She had done it against Elise Mertens four years ago.

The fourth-ranked Gauff needs two more victories to reach the quarterfinals for her best appearance in five outings in Madrid. She will next face fellow American Ann Li, who defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Earlier Thursday, world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, who will turn 18 on Tuesday, reached the third round by defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-4, while Brazil's Bia Haddad Maia rallied to beat Bernard Pera 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

American Katie Volynets lost 6-1, 6-2 to Diana Shnaider, and countrywoman Emma Navarro won 7-5, 7-5 against Maya Joint.

In the men's side, former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori defeated Alexsandar Vukic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 for his 450th tour-level win. The 64th-ranked Japanese was a 2014 finalist in Madrid.

“I had no idea,” the 35-year-old Nishikori said about his milestone. “I just try to play one match at a time. It’s a lot, yes... I have played for 18 years now, hopefully I can reach 500 (wins).”

He will play 29th-seed Denis Shapovalov in the second round.

Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian who has become a sensation on tour this year, defeated Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-3 on center court to set up a second-round meeting against 11th-seeded Tommy Paul.

“I know it’s going to be a difficult match,” Fonseca said. “I already practiced with him once. Yeah, excited for the match.”

Fonseca will go for his third top-20 victory. He defeated No. 9 Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open and No. 20 Ugo Humbert in Miami.

David Goffin had to retire while losing 1-0 in the third set against Alexandre Muller, while Lorenzo Sonego beat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 7-6 (5).

Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament on Thursday, citing muscle injuries.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

United States' Coco Gauff celebrates after her win over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff celebrates after her win over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff returns the ball against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff reaches out to return the ball against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Iga Swiatek competes against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Alexandra Eala of Philippines runs for a ball during her match against Poland's Iga Swiatek during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates a point during her match against Poland's Iga Swiatek during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Alexandra Eala of Philippines returns the ball during her match against Poland's Iga Swiatek during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Poland's Iga Swiatek serves against Alexandra Eala of Philippines during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)