Aryna Sabalenka, a three‑time champion of the Mutua Madrid Open, finally broke her clay‑court drought by defeating American rising star Peyton Stearns in her opening match of the season. The win came on the heels of her impressive "Sunshine Double" triumphs in Indian Wells and Miami, underscoring her momentum heading into the European swing.
Having just been honoured as the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, Sabalenka returned to competition after a three‑week hiatus. Though she appeared a touch tentative at the start, the world No. 1 rallied to claim a straight‑sets victory, 7‑5, 6‑3, over Stearns.
"It was a tough match," Sabalenka told Sky Sports Tennis. "It was my first match on clay.
She's an incredible player and I feel like this court suits her game really well. The more I was staying on the court the better I was feeling and I really hope in the next one I'll bring better tennis. I'm just glad that when it matters I was bringing the best tennis." Former British No.
1 Laura Robson offered perspective on Sabalenka's performance. "We expect perfection most of the time from Sabalenka, given her astonishing win‑loss record this year – 24‑1 – but we have to remember she just came off a break. This season she's been selective about the events she enters. After Miami she wanted a few weeks off, and then she shows up in Madrid, playing at altitude against a player like Stearns who hits a big, kicking serve that bounces high.
Sabalenka handled that well. It wasn't her absolute best, but the fact that she still won in straight sets is a good sign.
The more she builds toward the bigger tournaments, the more she looks relaxed and confident." The match took place in a unique setting: the iconic Santiago Bernabéu stadium, traditionally a football arena, was transformed into a temporary clay court for the tournament. The venue, steeped in sporting history, offered players a rare chance to train and compete in a setting usually reserved for football legends.
During the event, Sabalenka was joined in the players' box by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. When asked how the two connected, Sabalenka explained, "I was supposed to attend a Real Madrid match last year, and Courtois messaged me to see if I was coming. He ended up spending time with my boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis. I only met him right before the match, but he's a great guy and his support means a lot." Courtois, who recently posed with Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and Jude Bellingham at the Bernabéu, highlighted the crossover appeal of the tournament, bringing together top athletes from different sports.
In other Madrid action, defending champion Iga Świątek displayed her dominance by dispatching qualifier Daria Snigur 6‑1, 6‑2 in just 61 minutes. Świątek, who won the 2024 title, surged ahead with six consecutive games in the second set to secure her place in the next round of the WTA 1000 event.
When prompted to speak a few words of Spanish—a language she studied in high school—Świątek joked, "Honestly I should've learned more, but hola, ¿cómo estás, Madrid?" Świątek also shared a personal anecdote about her admiration for Rafael Nadal. Growing up a devoted fan, she recalled a training stint at Nadal's academy in Mallorca, where she received informal coaching from the 22‑time Grand Slam champion. While Nadal does not hold an official role with her, Świątek said, "I don't know if he's watching or not; I know he's super busy, probably even busier now than when he was playing. We're not in constant touch, but I know I can always ask him anything.
That comfort shows what a good person he is." The tournament also produced an upset: Ukraine's Elina Svitolina fell 6‑3, 6‑4 to Hungary's Anna Bondár, marking the first time a Hungarian has beaten a top‑10 player since Timea Babos's victory over CoCo Vandeweghe at the 2018 Australian Open. Svitolina, who had reached the semi‑finals in Stuttgart the previous week, required an ankle treatment during a medical timeout while trailing 3‑2 in the second set. Bondár, reflecting on her win, said, "I knew I had to bring my A‑game, which I think I did today.
I played against her three times last year, so I knew what to expect. The conditions here suit my heavy forehand, and that was a key factor." Overall, the Madrid Open continues to blend high‑stakes tennis with a spectacular atmosphere, offering fans live coverage on Sky Sports and streaming options via NOW and the Sky Sports app. The tournament's innovative use of the Bernabéu as a clay venue not only provides players with a memorable experience but also reinforces Madrid's reputation as a premier destination for world‑class tennis.