Madrid Masters
Sabalenka rescues victory in Madrid thriller
Aryna Sabalenka laid on a fightback from a set and a break down on Monday to preserve her quest for a fourth title at the Madrid Masters with a come-from behind 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Naomi Osaka.
The fourth-round win sent the world No. 1 and defending champion into the quarter-finals against Hailey Baptiste, who defeated Swiss Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7 (14), 6-3.
The American winner was stunned by her fighting success:
“The tiebreak was insane,” Baptiste said. “It was quite obvious that nerves got a bit in the way when I had some moments to close out the match, but that’s obviously a part of the game.
“I wasn’t able to get out of that tiebreak, but I was able to turn it around in the third set, so I can be happy about that.
“(It would have been) super easy to just leave the match mentally after something like that. Having six chances – painful, very, very painful to not get out of that.”Sabalenka earned a less dramatic but equally satisfying victory into the last eight in the capital.
“Oh my God, that was incredible level,” the winner said . “She played incredible tennis.= “I feel like I just got lucky in a couple shots in the third set, that’s why it went that fast.”
The top seed finished in the deciding set as she lost just three points on serve; she advanced with a sixth ace and 31st winner.
“I just dropped my level at the end of the first set and gave her that tiebreak quite easily,” Sabalenka said. “But overall I’m happy with my performance.
“When someone put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. I could struggle a little bit, and find a solution in the match. So, overall happy.”
Carlos Alcaraz could miss the entire grass season if a worst-case scenario on his wrist injury comes into play.
The Spaniard has already withdrawn from title defences on clay at Rome and Roland Garros after injuring the wrist this month in Barcelona.
But latest reports from Spain indicate that the world No. 2 could possibly not be back until the start of the US Open run-up next August, possibly at the Cincinnati Masters.
Rome’s La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the bad news on the fitness state of Alcaraz, winner of the last two French Open editions. The paper reported there was no chance for the player to compete either at Queen’s club, London, or Wimbledon, which begins in late June.
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz reached Wimbledon final 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner ran his Masters 1000 win streak to 24 straight on Sunday, reaching the fourth round in Madrid 6-2, 6-3 over qualifier Elmer Moller.
The No. 169 Dane was treated during a medical timeout late in the first set for abdominal muscle pain, carrying on to make a match of it against the world No. 1 Italian.
Sinner, who has lost just two sets over the course of his win streak, kept his unforced error count to nine in a 67-minute victory.
“I felt better today than in the first match, the winner said. “I tried to stay calm, and serve well at the important moments. That was the key.”
Sinner now stands four wins away from becoming the first man to win five Masters titles in succession,
He improved this season to 26-2 and next plays the winner from Brit Cam Norrie or Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Iga Swiatek fled the court with tears in her eyes after apparent heat exhaustion forced a retirement in the third set of her third -round match against Ann Li at the Madrid Masters on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded former WTA No. 1 could not go on as she retired trailing 3-0 in the deciding set, with her 34th-ranked American opponent collecting a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Swiatek was seen on court by the tournament doctor after she quit in stifling spring heat in the Spanish capital.
The Pole was struggling and down a break in the third when she pulled the plug.
Swiatek took a medical timeout trailing 2-0 in the final set and retired after one more game with gastro issues.
Victory marked the second top 10 win for Li, who achieved her last more than four years ago.
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