Aryna Sabalenka, a three‑time champion of the Mutua Madrid Open, finally broke her clay‑court drought this season with a straight‑sets win over American challenger Peyton Stearns. The victory came on the heels of Sabalenka completing the coveted "Sunshine Double" – triumphs at both Indian Wells and Miami – and marked her first appearance on the red dirt of Madrid. Having been honoured as Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus Awards earlier in the week, Sabalenka stepped away from competition for roughly three weeks. The hiatus left the world No.1 looking a touch out of sync when she stepped onto the clay, but she quickly found her rhythm, edging Stearns 7‑5, 6‑3.
"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 weighed in on Sabalenka's performance, noting the high expectations placed on the Belarusian. "We're expecting perfection most of the time from Sabalenka, considering how many match wins she has – 24‑1 in 2026.
But you have to remember she's had a bit of a break. Throughout this season she's really picking and choosing which tournaments she wants to play," Robson said. She added that after a brief rest following Miami, Sabalenka faced a challenging opponent in Stearns, who possesses a powerful kick serve that can bounce high off the clay. "She handled that really well.
It wasn't her best performance but the good thing is she's still winning in straight sets. You feel the more she's building into these events, she's the favourite for a reason, so all things considered she looks pretty relaxed out there today." The match also featured a surprising cameo from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was spotted in Sabalenka's players' box. When asked about their connection, Sabalenka explained, "I was supposed to go to a Real Madrid game last year and he messaged if I was coming, but he spent time with my boyfriend Georgios Frangulis.
I just met him for the first time before the match. He's such a nice guy and great support." Courtois later joined Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and football star Jude Bellingham for a photo shoot at the Santiago Bernabéu, where the stadium has been temporarily transformed into a clay training arena for the tournament.
The unique setting offers tennis stars a rare chance to practice on a surface steeped in football history. In other Madrid action, 2024 Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek dominated qualifier Daria Snigur with a 6‑1, 6‑2 win in just 61 minutes, cruising through the second set by winning six consecutive games.
Swiatek, who learned Spanish in high school, joked with the crowd, "Honestly I should've learned more," before greeting the audience with a cheerful "Hola, ¿cómo estás, Madrid?" Swiatek also revealed a personal connection to the tournament's host nation, recalling her admiration for Rafael Nadal growing up. She spent a training block at Nadal's academy in Mallorca, where the Spanish legend offered informal coaching tips.
"He doesn't have a formal role, but I know I can always ask him anything if I want. It's comforting and shows how good of a person he is," Swiatek said, adding that Nadal is likely even busier now than during his playing days.
The women's draw saw a surprise upset as Ukraine's Elina Svitolina fell 6‑3, 6‑4 to Hungary's rising star Anna Bondar. Bondar's victory marked the first time a Hungarian has beaten a top‑10 opponent since Timea Babos upset CoCo Vandeweghe at the 2018 Australian Open. Svitolina, a recent semi‑finalist in Stuttgart, was forced to take a medical timeout for an ankle issue while trailing 3‑2 in the second set.
After the match, Bondar praised her preparation: "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." Fans can follow the ATP and WTA tours live on Sky Sports or stream via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which now offers more than 50% additional live sport at no extra charge. For the best viewing experience, the platform recommends using the Chrome browser.