MADRID : Top seed Aryna Sabalenka extended her dominant 2026 season by cruising into the fourth round of the Madrid Open with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian on Saturday.
The Belarusian improved to 25-1 for the year, carrying her strong hard-court form onto clay after completing the “Sunshine Double” with titles at Indian Wells and Miami Open.
Cristian threatened briefly in the second set, earning four break points at 4-2, but Sabalenka held firm before breaking back to seal the match. She will next face Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who defeated Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-1, 6-3.
Elsewhere, American Ann Li advanced after fourth seed Iga Swiatek retired due to illness while trailing 7-6(4), 2-6, 0-3.
“I’m super sorry for her… it’s never easy to go like that,” Li said. “I was just proud of the way I fought.”
Ninth seed Mirra Andreeva continued her strong clay form with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi, improving to 9-1 on the surface this season.
In other matches, American Hailey Baptiste upset eighth seed Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-3, while Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic edged Russia’s Diana Shnaider in straight sets.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez rallied past Iva Jovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and will face Li in the next round.
