Madrid, May 1 (UNI) Defending champion Iga Swiatek recovered from losing the first set without winning a game to beat Madison Keys 0-6 6-3 6-2 in their Madrid Open quarter-final match.

American Keys, who won the Australian Open for her first Grand Slam victory earlier this year, took the first set in 24 minutes before four-time French Open champion Swiatek recovered to secure a semi-final spot on Wednesday.

"Honestly, it was one of the weirdest matches I've ever played," said Poland's Swiatek.

"I didn't feel like the first set was that bad. I felt the ball well - it just went super long. I tried to play a bit shorter and with some mistakes by Maddy, the momentum changed in the end. I'm happy that I

did it," she said.

Swiatek will face Coco Gauff in the last four after the American beat Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-1, the

BBC reported.

Gauff faced two set points in the first set before taking control and securing victory.

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina is also into the semi-finals courtesy of a 6-2 6-1 win against Japan's

Moyuka Uchijima and will play world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who earned a hard-fought

7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) win against Marta Kostyuk.

Play was briefly halted in the second-set tie-break, before Sabalenka saved three set points on

the way to registering her victory.

"Honestly, that was a battle and conditions were incredibly tough," said the 26-year-old. "It wasn't about tennis, it was about the way you handled your emotions.

"I think I did really well and I'm super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation."

UNI BM