World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced a tough challenge from her former doubles partner, the No. 28 seed Elise Mertens, at the Mutua Madrid Open. Despite dropping the first set, Sabalenka ultimately advanced to the fourth round with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Sabalenka entered the contest with a dominant history against Mertens, holding a 9-2 head-to-head record, including an eight-match winning streak stretching back to 2018. This run included a decisive 6-4, 6-1 win just last week in the Stuttgart quarterfinals. Furthermore, Sabalenka had won 14 consecutive sets against the Belgian player, a streak of dominance that had made this pairing predictable for years.
Their twelfth career meeting initially followed script, with Sabalenka quickly winning 10 of the opening 11 points. However, with Sabalenka leading 2-0, Mertens dramatically turned the tide, claiming six of the subsequent seven games to win the first set 6-3 – her first set win against Sabalenka since 2019.
The two-time champion in Madrid quickly reasserted her authority in the match and the rivalry. Increasing her intensity and improving her shot placement, Sabalenka dominated the remainder of the contest, winning 12 of the final 15 games to secure her spot in the Round of 16. This marks her fourth appearance in the Madrid fourth round. Her next opponent will be either Peyton Stearns or qualifier Rebeka Masarova.
Rupert Caldwell