TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's tennis star Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) has secured her place in the women's doubles quarterfinals at the prestigious Mutua Madrid Open, one of the key clay court tournaments of the season. Hsieh and her Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko dispatched the Ukrainian-Chinese duo of Nadiia Kichenok and Xu Yifan (徐一璠) with a commanding 6-1, 7-6 victory on Sunday (April 27).
The third-seeded pair, who previously joined forces during February's Dubai Tennis Championships, displayed exceptional chemistry on the Madrid clay. Hsieh and Ostapenko overwhelmed their opponents in the opening set with a decisive 6-1 victory. Their resilience shone through in the second set when, facing a daunting 2-5 deficit, they orchestrated a remarkable comeback to clinch the tiebreaker 7-6, showcasing their mental fortitude and tactical coordination.
The victorious duo now advances to a potential quarterfinal clash against the fifth-seeded Russian team of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider. Tennis enthusiasts across Taiwan and the Baltic states are watching with anticipation as Hsieh and Ostapenko pursue their semifinal aspirations. Their complementary playing styles — combining Hsieh's craftiness with Ostapenko's power—have made them formidable contenders in this prestigious WTA 1000 event. ★