Three-time Mutua Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka won her first clay-court match of the year against Peyton Stearns after completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ – winning at Indian Wells followed by Miami.
Sabalenka, who was named sportswoman of the year at the Laureus awards on Monday, took three weeks away from competition.
The world No 1 looked a little rusty but battled to a 7-5 6-3 victory against American Peyton Stearns.
“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:
“We’re expecting perfection most of the time from Sabalenka, considering how many match wins she has [24-1 in 2026]. But then you have to take into account that she has had a bit of a break. Throughout this season she is really picking and choosing which tournaments she wants to play.
“After Miami, she wanted a few weeks off and then coming out here and playing at altitude against someone like Stearns, who does throw a lot at you and has the kick-serve that really bounces up off the court at you, I felt like Sabalenka 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.”
With Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sitting in Sabalenka’s players’ box, the four-time Grand Slam was asked how the connection came about.
“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,” said Sabalenka.
Courtois teamed up with Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner and Jude Bellingham in a photo opportunity at the Bernabeu.
The iconic stadium has been transformed into a unique training venue for the tournament, with a clay tennis court set up to provide tennis stars with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train in a venue steeped in sporting history.
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Watch Rafael Jodar celebrate his Madrid Open win against Jesper De Jong with Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham!
Swiatek sails through in Spanish capital
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Highlights from the match between Iga Swiatek and Daria Snigur at the Madrid Open
Iga Swiatek, the 2024 champion, enjoyed a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory over qualifier Daria Snigur in just 61 minutes.
The Wimbledon champion won six games in a row in the second set to advance through to the next stage of the WTA 1000 in Madrid.
Swiatek, who took up Spanish as a language in high school, was asked to say a few words: “Honestly I should’ve learned more,” she joked. “But hola, como estas Madrid?”
A devoted fan of Nadal growing up, Swiatek admitted to being somewhat giddy when she spent a training block at the Spaniard’s academy in Majorca and received coaching advice from the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
He does not have a formal role, with Swiatek saying: “I don’t know if he’s watching or not, I know he’s super busy, even more busy I think than when he played.
“We’re not in constant touch but I know I can always ask him anything if I want so this is really comforting and it also shows how good of a person he is.”
Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina fell to a shock 6-3 6-4 defeat to Hungary’s Anna Bondar.
She became the first Hungarian to defeat a top 10 opponent since Timea Babos upset CoCo Vandeweghe in the 2018 Australian Open first round.
Svitolina, a semi-finalist in Stuttgart last week, received treatment on her ankle during a medical timeout trailing 3-2 in the second set.
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Highlights as Anna Bondar stunned Elina Svitolina
“I knew I had to bring my A game, which I think I did today,” Bondar said in her on-court interview. “I played against her three times last year, so I knew what to expect.
“I think the conditions fit my game here really well – I like to use my heavy forehand, so I think that was one of the keys today.”
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