MADRID : World number one Aryna Sabalenka battled back from a set down to defeat Naomi Osaka 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping third-round clash at the Madrid Open on Monday, keeping her title defence on track.
The Belarusian, a three-times champion in the Spanish capital, overcame a strong start from former world number one Osaka to take control of the match, which lasted two hours and 22 minutes.
It was only the third meeting between the pair, both four-times Grand Slam champions, following their earlier encounter this season at Indian Wells and a previous clash at the 2018 U.S. Open, where Osaka prevailed.
Osaka edged a tight opening set in a tiebreak, racing into a 5-0 lead and closing it out 7-1 as Sabalenka struggled for consistency at the net. The Japanese player dictated play from the baseline with deep, flat groundstrokes that kept her opponent on the defensive.
Sabalenka responded with greater aggression in the second set, creating early break opportunities and gradually shifting the momentum despite Osaka initially holding firm in a lengthy opening game. After exchanging breaks, Sabalenka secured a decisive break in the eighth game and served out the set to level the match.
The top seed carried that momentum into the decider, breaking in the fourth game before pulling further ahead as Osaka showed signs of frustration. Sabalenka broke again to move 5-2 in front and sealed victory comfortably to set up a quarter-final meeting with American Hailey Baptiste.
In the men’s draw, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Spaniard Daniel Merida 6-4, 6-2 and will face Casper Ruud in the next round.
