Aryna Sabalenka powered through her second‑round match at the Madrid Open on Saturday, dispatching Romania's Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, in a contest that lasted just one hour and twenty‑five minutes. The Belarusian, who entered the tournament as the defending champion, will now meet Naomi Osaka in the round of 16, a match that could secure her a spot in the quarter‑finals. Sabalenka, who currently holds the world No. 1 ranking and has compiled a remarkable streak of fourteen consecutive victories, reflected on her performance after the win.
"The first set especially was an incredible level from me," she said. "I even managed a one‑handed backhand, which is a bit crazy – that shot was probably the best of my life." In other news from the Spanish capital, veteran American Venus Williams celebrated her first triumph since the US Open, this time in the doubles arena, alongside British partner Katie Boulter.
The duo accepted a last‑minute invitation to team up for the Madrid Open and staged a comeback after dropping the opening set, ultimately defeating China's Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 in a match tiebreak. Williams, 45, has endured a ten‑match losing streak in singles at the event, having fallen in the first round once again, and she had not secured a doubles victory since reaching the US Open quarter‑finals with Leylah Fernandez the previous summer.
Boulter expressed her delight at the partnership, saying, "It was great, it was so much fun. Being on the same side of the net with Venus was a privilege – I don't want to be on the opposite side.
It was really nice to play with her and I enjoyed every minute." The tournament also saw a dramatic exit from former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who was forced to retire from her third‑round match against Ann Li after a painful bout of illness. Swiatek, who has yet to progress beyond the quarter‑finals in any event this season, disclosed that she was battling a virus that left her with a fever and fluctuating blood pressure. After losing the first two games of the decisive set, she took medication but continued to feel lethargic, eventually trailing Li 6-7 (4), 6-2, 0-3, 0-30 before walking off the court in tears.
"The last two days have been terrible," the Polish star lamented. "I think I have a virus.
Some hours I'm fine, other hours I'm really bad. I heard there might be something circulating among players, and I felt zero energy. Yesterday was even worse, and today I hoped to feel better, but not enough to play." Swiatek attempted to rally after dropping a tight first set, but her physical condition deteriorated rapidly in the third set.
When asked whether she had considered not stepping onto the court at all, the fourth seed admitted, "I knew it would be hard, but I still wanted to try. In the third set I started feeling dizzy and uncoordinated. I couldn't drink anything because I felt constantly full, and my energy plummeted." The Polish champion will now focus on recovery before turning her attention to the upcoming Italian Open in Rome, where she hopes to regain form under the guidance of her new coach, Francisco Roig, ahead of the French Open.
"It's sad that I can't play because I was feeling good with my game and was making progress," she said. "The tournament just started, and I couldn't even compete today – it's disappointing." On the men's side, second seed Alexander Zverev overcame a brief setback against Argentina's Mariano Navone, dropping the second set before rallying to win 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Defending champion Casper Ruud continued his dominant run with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Spain's Jaume Munar, while third seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime also advanced to the third round. The Madrid Open has been a showcase of both high‑level tennis and the challenges athletes face when health issues arise.
Sabalenka's commanding display underscores her readiness to defend her title, while Swiatek's withdrawal highlights the unpredictable nature of illness on the tour. Fans can continue to follow live action through Sky Sports, the NOW streaming service, or the Sky Sports app, which now offers more than half again as much live sport at no extra charge.
For those seeking highlights, match videos, and in‑depth analysis, the platforms provide comprehensive coverage of both the ATP and WTA events throughout the tournament.