Aryna Sabalenka survives patchy opener, overcomes Peyton Stearns for Madrid milestone

Tuesday, 29 April 2025 at 21:38

Aryna Sabalenka lived up to her status as favourite and defeated Peyton Stearns 6-2, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 Madrid Open. The World No. 1 overcame a resilient Stearns in the second set and earned a commanding win — her 20th career victory in Madrid — as she continues her pursuit of a third title at La Caja Mágica.

Both players had some early struggles on serve, but it was the three-time Grand Slam champion who raised her level in the key moments. Sabalenka will now face the winner of Marta Kostyuk vs. Anastasia Potapova in the next round.

First Set

Both players held serve early, but the errors began to creep in. Sabalenka seized her first break opportunity in the third game to go ahead and had to fight off four break points in the next game to consolidate her 3-1 lead.

She broke again in the seventh game, giving her a decisive edge in a tricky set where she saved 10 break points overall, eventually closing it out 6-2 — a scoreline that doesn’t fully reflect the patchy play from the 26-year-old.

Second Set

Once again, Sabalenka capitalised on Stearns' issues with her second serve and secured an early break, racing to a 2-0 lead. The American managed to claw her way back and had break chances but couldn’t convert.

Stearns finally broke in the sixth game to level things at 3-3, then held serve comfortably to take the lead for the first time and looked more confident than at any point in the match. But Sabalenka, showing the composure of a World No. 1, responded immediately with a break of her own and went on to serve out the match for a 6-2, 6-4 win.

The Belarusian moves into the quarterfinals at the Madrid Open for yet another year, having won the tournament in 2021 and 2023, and finished runner-up in 2024 to Iga Swiatek. With 20 victories, Madrid is the WTA 1000 event where she holds the most wins.

Match Statistics Sabalenka vs. Stearns

Sabalenka	VS	Stearns
	Service
3	Aces	0
0	Double Faults	2
56% (36/64)	1st Service Percentage	74% (39/53)
78% (28/36)	1st Service Points Won	56% (22/39)
43% (12/28)	2nd Service Points Won	36% (5/14)
92% (12/13)	Break Points Saved	43% (3/7)
89% (8/9)	Service Games	56% (5/9)
	Return
44% (17/39)	1st Return Points Won	22% (8/36)
64% (9/14)	2nd Return Points Won	57% (16/28)
-	Break Points Saved	-
	Other
1h 20m	Match Duration	1h 20m

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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