Aryna Sabalenka defeated Naomi Osaka 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 in the Madrid Open fourth round, extending her winning streak to 15 matches, according to Guardian Sport US and MyJoyOnline. Sabalenka, the world No. 1, came from behind after losing the first set and facing a break down to secure the hard-fought victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
The win set up a quarter-final clash against American Hailey Baptiste, a matchup noted by several outlets. MyJoyOnline highlighted that Sabalenka had previously beaten Baptiste in the Miami Open quarter-finals last month, though Baptiste was seen as a rising threat given her strong tournament showing.
Sabalenka lost to Baptiste in the Madrid Open quarter-finals, as reported by Sydney Morning Herald and Aristegui Noticias. The match was tightly contested, with Sabalenka missing six match points before ultimately falling 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(6). There is conflicting reporting about Sabalenka's next opponent, with Aristegui Noticias naming Mirra Andreeva for the subsequent round.
In a related Madrid Open development, Elena Rybakina was eliminated by Anastasia Potapova, as noted by the Japan Times. This result clears a path for other top contenders as the tournament progresses into the later stages.
The focus now turns to how Hailey Baptiste will perform in the semi-finals after her dramatic win over Sabalenka, and whether Sabalenka's second loss this year will affect her pursuit of additional titles in 2024. The top players’ performances in upcoming matches will be critical in shaping the remainder of the Madrid Open.
Hailey Baptiste
Aryna Sabalenka
Naomi Osaka
Madrid
