Aryna Sabalenka, the three-time Mutua Madrid Open champion, has claimed her first clay-court victory of the year, defeating Peyton Stearns in a closely contested match. Following a three-week break from competition, during which she was named sportswoman of the year at the Laureus awards, Sabalenka demonstrated her resilience in a 7-5, 6-3 win.
Although she appeared slightly rusty, the world No 1 managed to outmaneuver her American opponent. In a post-match interview, Sabalenka acknowledged the challenge posed by Stearns, stating, 'It was a tough match... She's an incredible player, and I feel like this court suits her game really well.' Former British No 1 Laura Robson noted that despite Sabalenka's impressive record, her recent break and the high altitude of the Madrid tournament presented significant challenges. Robson observed, 'We're expecting perfection most of the time from Sabalenka...
But then you have to take into account that she has had a bit of a break.' Sabalenka's connection to Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was in attendance, was also revealed, with the tennis star explaining that they met through her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, the 2024 champion, dominated her match against Daria Snigur, winning 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes. Swiatek, a devoted fan of Rafael Nadal, shared her experience of training at his academy and receiving coaching advice from the tennis legend.
In another surprising turn of events, Elina Svitolina suffered a shock defeat to Hungary's Anna Bondar, who became the first Hungarian to defeat a top 10 opponent since 2018.