Swiatek recovers from 0-6 start to beat Keys and set up Madrid semifinal vs. Gauff

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek survived “one of the weirdest matches” after losing the first six games and recovering to defeat Madison Keys 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 and stay on track to defend her title at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.

The second-ranked Swiatek will face Coco Gauff in the semifinals after the 21-year-old American beat teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight sets in the youngest WTA 1000 quarterfinal since 2009.

Swiatek was overpowered by Keys early in their quarterfinal but eventually found a way to rally past the fifth-ranked American on center court.

“It was one of the weirdest matches I played,” Swiatek said. “Maddie was playing just perfectly at the beginning and I wasn’t really proactive with anything. I let Maddie do more mistakes by just putting the ball back and the momentum changed.”

Swiatek said of going down 0-6 at the start of the match: “At least it was fast, that’s the only positive think.”

It was the first meeting between the two since Swiatek squandered a match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open that was won by Keys.

Swiatek is trying to reach her third straight Madrid final. She beat Aryna Sabalenka last year after losing to her in 2023.

Top-ranked Sabalenka needed two tiebreakers to advance, beating Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7).

Sabalenka will face 17th-seeded Elina Svitolina for a spot in the final. Svitolina beat Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1.

Gauff, ranked No. 4, who got past seventh-ranked Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1. Andreeva turned 18 on Tuesday.

Since the introduction of the WTA 1000 tier, only the 2009 Indian Wells quarterfinal between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Agnieszka Radwanska had a younger combined age, the WTA said.

Gauff recovered after being down a break at 5-4 in the first set. She faced two set points.

“Off the ground I think I was dictating most of the rallies, so happy with that,” Gauff said. “Overall happy with everything.”

Both Gauff and Andreeva had been able to finish their matches in the previous round just before play was paused because of the major blackout that brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill on Monday. More than 20 matches had to be postponed at the Caja Magica tennis complex.

Matteo Arnaldi backed up his victory over Novak Djokovic in the second round of the men's draw by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP 1000 tournament for the second time.

Arnaldi now has three consecutive wins against top 20 opponents for the first time in his career.

The Italian will next face Jack Draper, who advanced by beating Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-2 in 68 minutes. The sixth-ranked Draper clinched his maiden ATP 1000 title in Indian Wells this year.

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

United States' Coco Gauff serves against Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates following her victory over United States' Madison Keys during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek of Poland covers her face with a towel during her match against United States' Madison Keys at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff, right, shakes hands after her victory Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff returns against Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff returns the ball against Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff eyes the ball as she plays Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff celebrates after her victory over Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

United States' Coco Gauff celebrates after her victory over Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the Madrid Open quarter-final tennis match in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek of Poland returns the ball against United States' Madison Keys during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates following her victory over United States' Madison Keys during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)