By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, April 25, 2026
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty
A creative Ann Li—and apparent stomach illness—conspired to make Iga Swiatek disappear from Madrid’s Magic Box today.
Li led 7-6(4), 2-6, 3-0 when the fourth-seeded Swiatek retired from their Mutua Madrid Open match after two hours, 10 minutes due to that apparent stomach issue.
It is Li’s second career Top 10 triumph coming four years after she toppled world No. 7 Anett Kontaveit at the 2022 Miami Open.
The 2024 champion Swiatek lacked some of her standard closing speed on some shots and saw Li beat her to the punch in pivotal rallies in the opening set. During one changeover, Swiatek looked at new coach Francisco Roig and pointed at her stomach as if signaling illness. Swiatek took a medical timeout after the opening game of the final set when her blood pressure was checked.
The Wimbledon winner played two more games before pulling the plug briefly sitting on her court-side seat covering her face with her hands.
Showing sharp all-court skills, Li mixed her spins and speeds shrewdly, including carving a brilliant backhand drop shot winner to seal the opening-set tiebreaker.
The 31st-seeded Li will play for her second straight clay-court quarterfinal when she faces Leylah Fernandez next.
The 2021 US Open finalist Fernandez fought off talented 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Fernandez converted all five break point chances in a two-hour, eight-minute win.
Li has won both prior meetings vs. Fernandez, including scoring a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory in the Madrid second round last April.
Today, Li broke to open the match then saved a break point for 2-0.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek answered with a three-game surge to go up 3-2. Li was timing Swiatek’s topspin as she earned a break point in the ninth game. When Swiatek scattered a forehand wide, Li broke for 5-4.
The 25-year-old American failed to convert her first set point serving for the set and Swiatek broke back for 5-all.
Dancing around her backhand, Li lashed a forehand strike down the line to force the opening-set tiebreaker.
Deadlocked at 4-all in the breaker, Swiatek blinked. The Pole drew the midcourt ball she sought, but bungled the forehand sitter handing Li the mini break and a 5-4 lead.
Whipping the wide serve, Li raced forward and pounded down a bounce smash for set point. On the next point, Li froze Swiatek with that fantastic backhand drop shot to take a one set lead.
After Swiatek left the court for a bathroom break, Li opened the second set with a hideous error-filled game, donating the break at love to the former champion.
Swiatek was stepping in and hitting her forehand with ambition as she held at 30 for a 4-0 second-set lead.
A jolting flying forehand from Li created a short-angled winner that helped her hold and snap a four-game slide.
Swiatek stayed the course and ran out the second set but could not convert a couple of break points as Li held for 1-0.
On the changeover, Swiatek, looking grim, called for the medical timeout. Li broke in the next game and held for 3-0 when Swiatek pulled the plug.