Aryna Sabalenka, a three‑time champion at the Mutua Madrid Open, finally broke her clay‑court drought this season by defeating American rising star Peyton Stearns. The win came on the heels of her impressive "Sunshine Double" – back‑to‑back titles at Indian Wells and Miami – and marked her first triumph on the red dirt of Madrid. Having been honored as the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year just days earlier, Sabalenka returned to competition after a three‑week hiatus.
Though she appeared a touch rusty at the start, the world No. 1 rallied to claim a straight‑sets victory, 7‑5, 6‑3. In her post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, she described the encounter as "tough" and admitted it was her inaugural match on clay. "She’s an incredible player and the surface really suits her game," Sabalenka said, referring to Stearns' aggressive baseline style and heavy kick serve.
"The longer I stayed on the court, the better I felt, and I hope to bring even stronger tennis in my next match. I'm just glad that when it mattered, I delivered my best tennis." Former British No.
1 Laura Robson weighed in on Sabalenka's performance, noting the high standards fans set for the Belarusian. "We expect near‑perfection from Sabalenka, especially given her staggering 24‑1 win‑loss record this year.
But we also have to consider the brief break she took. She’s being selective about her schedule, picking the events that fit her preparation plan," Robson explained. She praised Sabalenka's composure against a player like Stearns, who can generate a lot of pace and spin, particularly at the high altitude of Madrid.
"It wasn’t her absolute best showing, but the fact she won in straight sets shows her resilience. As she builds momentum into the bigger tournaments, she’s the favorite for a reason, and she seemed pretty relaxed out there today." The match also featured a light‑hearted moment in the players' box, where Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was seated beside Sabalenka. When asked about their connection, Sabalenka recounted a casual invitation to a Real Madrid match the previous year. Courtois messaged her, but ended up spending time with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis.
"I met him for the first time right before the match. He’s a really nice guy and great support," she said, highlighting the friendly crossover between elite tennis and football athletes. Courtois, alongside tennis greats Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and football star Jude Bellingham, posed for a photo at the Bernabéu, where the iconic stadium has been temporarily transformed into a clay‑court training facility for the tournament.
This unique setup offers players a rare chance to practice on a surface steeped in sporting history while adjusting to the venue's altitude. In other Madrid action, defending champion Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant performance, dispatching qualifier Daria Snigur 6‑1, 6‑2 in just 61 minutes. The Polish star, who won the 2024 title, rattled off six consecutive games in the second set to secure her place in the next round of the WTA 1000 event.
When asked to speak a few words in Spanish – a language she studied in high school – Swiatek joked, "Honestly I should've learned more, but hola, ¿cómo estás, Madrid?" Swiatek also shared a personal anecdote about her admiration for Rafael Nadal. Growing up, she idolized the Spanish champion, and a recent training stint at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca left her "giddy". Although Nadal does not hold an official coaching role, Swiatek appreciates his occasional guidance. "I don’t know if he’s watching or not; he’s super busy, probably even more than when he was playing.
We’re not in constant touch, but I know I can ask him anything, which is comforting and shows what a good person he is," she remarked. The tournament also produced an upset in the women's draw.
Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina suffered a 6‑3, 6‑4 loss to Hungary’s Anna Bondar, who became the first Hungarian to defeat a top‑10 opponent since Timea Babos upset CoCo Vandeweghe at the 2018 Australian Open. Svitolina, who had reached the Stuttgart semifinals the week before, required medical attention for an ankle issue during a timeout in the second set.
Bondar, reflecting on her win, said, "I knew I had to bring my A‑game, and I think I did. I played her three times last year, so I knew what to expect. The conditions here suit my heavy forehand, which was a key factor today." Fans can follow all ATP and WTA action live on Sky Sports, or stream the coverage via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offers Sky Sports subscribers over 50% more live sport at no extra charge. For the best viewing experience, especially for video content, using the Chrome browser is recommended.