Aryna Sabalenka, a three‑time champion at the Mutua Madrid Open, finally recorded her inaugural win on clay this season by defeating American rising star Peyton Stearns. The triumph came on the heels of Sabalenka completing the coveted "Sunshine Double," having captured titles at both Indian Wells and Miami earlier in the year. The world‑number‑one entered Madrid fresh from a three‑week hiatus following her accolade as Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus Awards.
Although she appeared a touch tentative at the start of the match, Sabalenka gradually found her rhythm, edging Stearns 7‑5, 6‑3. She reflected on the experience in a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, noting, "It was a tough match.
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 time I spent on the court, the better I felt, and I hope to bring even stronger tennis in the next round.
I'm just glad that when it matters I was delivering my best tennis." Former British No. 1 Laura Robson offered perspective on Sabalenka's performance, saying, "We expect perfection most of the time from Sabalenka, given her astonishing win‑loss record this year—24 wins to just one loss. But we have to remember she's had a brief break. This season she's been selective about her schedule, choosing tournaments strategically.
After Miami she took a few weeks off, and then she arrived here to play at altitude against a player like Stearns, who hits a heavy kick serve that bounces up sharply. Sabalenka handled that well. It wasn't her absolute best display, but the fact that she still won in straight sets shows her resilience.
As she builds momentum heading into the bigger events, she's the favourite for a reason, and she seemed quite relaxed on court today." The match also featured a cameo from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was spotted in Sabalenka's player box. When asked about their connection, 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 in person before the match.
He's a very nice guy and gave me great support." Courtois, alongside tennis greats Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and football star Jude Bellingham, participated in a photo shoot at the iconic Bernabéu stadium, which this week has been transformed into a unique training venue. A full‑size clay court has been installed inside the arena, offering players a rare chance to practice on a surface steeped in sporting history while also adapting to the stadium's high altitude. In other Madrid action, 2024 Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek delivered a commanding performance, dispatching qualifier Daria Snigur 6‑1, 6‑2 in just 61 minutes.
Swiatek surged ahead with six consecutive games in the second set, securing her place in the next round of the WTA 1000 event. When prompted to speak Spanish—a language she studied in high school—Swiatek joked, "Honestly I should've learned more, but hola, ¿cómo estás Madrid?" Swiatek, a lifelong admirer of Rafael Nadal, recounted her excitement after spending a training stint at the Spaniard's academy in Mallorca.
She said, "Being coached by Nadal, even briefly, was a dream. He doesn't have an official coaching role with me, but I know I can reach out whenever I need advice. He's incredibly busy, perhaps even more so now than during his playing days, but his willingness to help shows what a great person he is." The tournament also delivered an upset as Ukraine's Elina Svitolina fell 6‑3, 6‑4 to Hungary's Anna Bondar. Bondar's victory marked the first time a Hungarian player has defeated a top‑10 opponent since Timea Babos upset CoCo Vandeweghe at the 2018 Australian Open.
Svitolina, who had reached the semifinals in Stuttgart the previous week, required medical attention for an ankle issue during a timeout when trailing 3‑2 in the second set. Bondar praised her preparation, stating, "I knew I had to bring my A‑game, and I think I did.
I've faced 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 continue to follow the ATP and WTA tours live on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offers Sky Sports customers over 50 percent more live sport at no extra charge. For the best viewing experience, especially for video content, users are advised to use the Chrome browser.