The Mutua Madrid Open saw notable results for players returning to the tour after maternity leave. Anastasija Sevastova secured a hard-fought victory, while Belinda Bencic celebrated her daughter`s birthday with a dominant win. However, three-time champion Petra Kvitova faced an early exit.
Sevastova`s Challenging Comeback Continues
Anastasija Sevastova`s return to tennis after becoming a mother has been marked by adversity. The Latvian former World No. 11 welcomed her daughter Alexandra in December 2022 and resumed playing in November of the following year, following a 22-month break. Her initial comeback showed promise, reaching the quarterfinals in her first four tournaments. Unfortunately, an ACL injury suffered in early 2024 halted her progress and cast doubt on her return.
After another 14-month layoff, Sevastova returned to the circuit unranked at an ITF event in Slovenia last week, reaching the second round. Her return to the main tour in Madrid presented a challenging first-round opponent in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a player against whom Sevastova had a poor historical record, losing all eight previous encounters between 2010 and 2021.
Despite the difficult draw and her recent injury setback, Sevastova, a former Madrid semifinalist (2017), overcame Pavlyuchenkova (a 2021 semifinalist) in two tight sets. Sevastova`s signature drop shot was effective throughout the match, although Pavlyuchenkova also displayed her touch. The match featured several lengthy games, including Sevastova holding serve after four deuces and breaking Pavlyuchenkova after seven deuces in the second set. Pavlyuchenkova showed resilience by saving eight break points in one game to level the second set at 2-2, but Sevastova ultimately prevailed, clinching the win with a skillful lob.
In the next round, Sevastova is set to face fellow Latvian and No. 23 seed Jelena Ostapenko, who recently won the title in Stuttgart. This will be a cross-generational encounter between the two players. Sevastova has won both of their previous meetings, most recently at Stuttgart in 2019.
Bencic Advances on Daughter`s Birthday, Kvitova Upset
Other mothers returning to the tour experienced mixed results on Day 2 in Madrid. Belinda Bencic had a particularly special day, celebrating her daughter Bella`s first birthday with a straightforward 6-0, 6-2 victory over Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez in just one hour. Bencic, who returned from maternity leave last October, has quickly regained form, having already claimed a title in Abu Dhabi in February. Currently ranked World No. 42, she will next play No. 20 seed Clara Tauson.
In contrast, three-time Madrid champion Petra Kvitova was unable to replicate her past success in the Spanish capital, falling to Katie Volynets with a score of 6-4, 6-0. The 35-year-old Czech started strongly, taking a 4-1 lead in the first set. However, Volynets staged a remarkable comeback, winning the next 11 consecutive games to secure the win. Kvitova, who returned from maternity leave in February, is still seeking her first victory, holding an 0-4 record since her return. Katie Volynets will advance to face No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider in the next round.
Rupert Caldwell