Swiatek, the defending champion in Madrid, rallied past Filipina teenager Alexandra Eala 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday. Eala had defeated Swiatek in straight sets in their first meeting last month in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
Swiatek had six aces to Eala’s three on Thursday and persevered as Eala saved nine of 16 break points, including five of six in the first set.
“It wasn’t easy to get into the rhythm and feel the right timing, so I’m happy that I was just patient,” Swiatek said.
Gauff, meanwhile, faced Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine and was blanked in the first set before charging back for a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Gauff had nothing going for her in that first set but won 10 of 13 first-service points in the second set.
She got out to a 3-0 lead in the third, only for Yastremska to win the next three games.
Yastremska also saved three match points while down 5-4 and extended the match before Gauff finally put it away.
Gauff’s countrywoman, No 5 seed Madison Keys, got past Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3.
Russian No 7 seed Mirra Andreeva was a 6-3, 6-4 victor over Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova.
No 11 seed Emma Navarro of the United States beat Australia’s Maya Joint 7-5, 7-5, while No 13 Diana Shnaider of Russia blew past Katie Volynets 6-1, 6-2.
There were three upsets: Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic beat No 20 seed Clara Tauson of Denmark 7-5, 7-5; Anastasija Sevastova took down No 23 seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (2), 6-2 in a battle between Latvians; and Ann Li of the United States staved off Canadian 25th seed Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. (Reuters)
