Sabalenka, the defending champion, battles to victory in Madrid Open

In a thrilling match at the Madrid Open, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought hard to secure a victory over Magda Linette in three sets. The Australian Open winner, who has been struggling with form recently, faced a tough challenge from her Polish opponent in a match that lasted over two hours.

Sabalenka, ranked second in the world, got off to a strong start with a decisive break in the third game. However, Linette fought back in the second set, breaking Sabalenka to take a 4-1 lead. The match was pushed to a deciding third set as both players battled fiercely on the court.

Despite facing break points, Sabalenka managed to hold her serve and eventually broke Linette to take a 5-3 lead. With a stroke of luck on her side, Sabalenka closed out the match with an ace, setting up a third-round clash with either Katie Boulter or Robin Montgomery.

In another match, Elena Rybakina continued her impressive form by defeating Lucia Bronzetti in straight sets. The Kazakhstani player, ranked fourth in the world, has been in great form after winning the title in Stuttgart last week. With three titles already under her belt this season, Rybakina is looking strong as she prepares for Roland Garros.

Teen sensation Mirra Andreeva also had a memorable victory, coming from a set and a breakdown to defeat Linda Noskova and advance to the third round. The 16-year-old’s impressive performance sets up an exciting matchup in the next round as she continues to make her mark on the tournament.