The winners of the last two editions of the Madrid Masters rolled over minimal opposition on Thursday to reach the third round with quick-fire victories.

Holder Aryna Sabalenka ran her current win streak to 13 straight matches with a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Payton Stearns, earning her seventh straight victory in Madrid.

The world No. 1 has claimed three titles here from four finals and is riding a wave of confidence after lifting trophies in Indian Wells and Miami last month.

“I’m just glad that I got the win. Maybe not that beautiful, but I feel like by the end of the match I felt much better on court,” Sabalenka said. “I really hope that in the next match I’ll bring better things.”

The winner now faces Romanian 29th seed Jaqueline Cristian.

“Today was a fresh start for me. And it wasn’t that smooth and maybe the movement wasn’t that good.

“But I’m happy I got a win. And I’ll just do some extra stuff tomorrow. Make sure that in the next match I’ll be playing a little bit better,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner.

Iga Swiatek, the fourth seed and former WTA No. 1, advanced as she crushed Daria Snigur 6-2, 6-4 in a 61-minute first outing after hiring former Emma Raducanu mentor Francisco Roig as her new coach a few weeks ago.

Swiatek is bidding for a fifth career title on clay and comes to the Spanish capital after losing in a Stuttgart quarter-final last week to Mirra Andreeva.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is beginning her clay season a bit later than usual after skipping the Stuttgart event to preserve her fitness and sanity.

The world No. 1 will make a start at the Madrid Masters defending a title after winning three trophies in the Spanish capital from four finals.

But the winner of three titles this season has been critical of what feels like a nonstop tournament schedule, with the 27-year-old putting heavy emphasis on more than just her shots.

“Mental health is really important, and I’ve been working with psychologists, I’ve been doing everything to stay mentally healthy,” Sabalenka said on Tuesday.

“It’s really important to, first of all, surround yourself with the people you feel comfortable with, you feel protected, and you just feel free to say whatever, to ask whatever, and to be free to chat with.”

She added: “It’s important to do stuff that brings you joy outside of this tennis world, sport world overall, because it’s a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations, a lot of things to deal with, to go through. 

“If you don’t have anything else outside of tennis, it’s really tough to stay in that pressure all the time. 

“I think it’s important to.. go for dinner, spend time with your friends, go shopping, just do something that is not related to sports. So your mind stays clear at least for half of your day.”

While apologising for skipping Stuttgart, the player said it was necessary with a pair of Grand Slam tests fast approaching.

“My body [has] been a little bit on and off, and I had to take some time off to recover, to do the right thing for my body, and that’s why this year looks a little bit less tournaments.

“Hopefully I will show up with my best tennis each time I’m competing.

”The ideal plan is to open up the schedule a bit, stay healthy and be better prepared to play my best tennis at every tournament”,

Nick Kyrgios is being touted for a return to tennis after playing just one singles match all season, with the controversial Australian due in the lineups for Stuttgart and Halle in June.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist who turns 31 in a week, has been added to the entry lists for the pair of run-up events prior to the grass-court major which starts on June 29.

Kyrgios, who has missed months on end due to injury and motivational worries, has played just one Grand Slam match since 2022, losing in the Australian Open first round in 2025.

His lone outing this season was an ATP defeat in Brisbane on January 6.

Nevertheless, the acquired taste is feted as a crowd-puller and will have German organisers on alert as to his eventual availability.

“Nick Kyrgios has been one of the most ‌dazzling ⁠personalities in world tennis for years,” Halle tournament organisers said in a statement.

“The Australian is known for his exceptional playing style, characterised by one of the best serves on the tour, ⁠spectacular winners, and great creativity.

“At the same time, his emotional personality and charisma attract considerable attention far beyond the sport.”

Stuttgart start the day after the Roland Garros final while Halle follows a week later in northern Germany from June 13-21.