REIGNING champion Aryna Sabalenka and Iwa Swiatek will face off again at the Madrid Open tomorrow in a repeat of last year’s final.

Swiatek stormed into the final in the space of 71 minutes with a 6-1 6-3 win over Madison Keys before Sabalenka needed more than two hours to overcome Elena Rybakina and continue the defence of her title.

Swiatek, the world number one, broke serve in the second game of her match with Keys and, after saving two break points for a 4-1 lead, never looked in danger of relinquishing the upper hand against her big-hitting opponent.

“[I feel] really good,” Swiatek said in a courtside interview broadcast on Sky Sports.

“I wasn’t really thinking about what happened last year, but for sure repeating this great result is a great thing and I’m going to have a chance to play a nice match in two days, so it’s really exciting and I’m happy overall with the whole tournament.”

Swiatek will face Sabalenka after she rallied to beat Rybakina 1-6 7-5 7-6 (5), winning the deciding tie-break 7-5.

In the men’s competition, third seed Daniil Medvedev is out after retiring hurt while trailing to Jiri Lehecka.

Medvedev received treatment on his right upper leg while 3-2 up but had further trouble before losing the first set 6-4 and retiring.

“It’s never easy in a match like this,” Lehecka said. “If I were to choose the way how to win this match, it wouldn’t be like that.

“So of course, it’s never easy to see your opponent struggling, but at that moment, you just need to focus on yourself, trying to get the maximum level out of yourself.”