By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, April 27, 2026
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
Sequels seldom surpass original drama—unless Aryna Sabalenka is pushing the plot line.
Down a set today, defending champion Sabalenka seized the stage with commanding closure to extend her winning streak.
In a clash of the current and former world No. 1, Sabalenka scorched an ace down the T, closing a 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 comeback conquest of Naomi Osaka in style and advance to the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals.
Empowered by her surge to the Sunshine Double, Sabalenka scored her 15th straight victory as she continues her march toward a Madrid milestone. Sabalenka improved to 26-1 in 2026 with her lone loss coming to No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.
“I think I played quite well. I think I just dropped my level at the end of the first set and gave her that tiebreak quite easily,” Sabalenka said. “But overall I’m happy with my performance. When someone put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. So I’m happy.”
“I’m happy that she actually brought that fight, just so I could fight through it, I could struggle a little bit, and find a solution in the match. So, overall happy.”
Three-time champion Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman to win four Mutua Madrid Open championships.
Next up for Sabalenka is a quarterfinal clash vs. assertive American Hailey Baptiste.
Earlier, Baptiste beat Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7(14), 6-3 to battle into her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal and first on clay, which she calls her favorite surface.
Baptiste squandered five match points in the second set—one serving at at 6-5 and four more in the tiebreaker—and saved five set points before Bencic finally fought through the breaker to force a decider.
Holding match point at 11-10, Baptiste double faulted then completely destroyed her Wilson racquet. Despite that second-set implosion, Baptiste reset winning four of the last five games to reach her second straight WTA 1000 quarterfinal following the Miami Open.
“I got the privilege of playing her in Miami, so I’ve got that under my belt,” Baptiste told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “I kind of know what to expect more, which gives me a little more comfort.
“I’m super excited. I’m gonna go there and give my best, play my game and try to come out with a win.”
This blockbuster round of 16 match was a rematch of the pair’s Indian Wells meeting last month. Six weeks ago, Sabalenka shredded Osaka 6-2, 6-4 at the BNP Paribas Open.
Today, Osaka outclassed the top seed in the first-set tiebreaker, but Sabalenka elevated her game in an explosive close to a two hour, 20-minute triumph.
US Open champion Sabalenka stormed through the final five straight games giving Osaka no second chances on first serve. Sabalenka was 11 for 11 on first serves in the last set defeating Osaka for the second time in six weeks to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head series.
“I really enjoy this process of adjusting to something to find the keys on basically each surface,” Sabalenka said. “Here, I’m just trying to create more shape on the ball, and just use this high bounce. Just basically play my game, but maybe a little bit more with the spin.”
Playing powerful first-strike tennis, Osaka fired and ace and flashed a backhand down the line for a love hold and 3-2 lead.
Serving at 5-6, 30-all, Sabalenka drew an errant forehand and drilled an ace to force the first-set tiebreaker.
Osaka turned the tables on tiebreak queen Sabalenka in the extra session.
Continuing to straddle the baseline, Osaka hit two challenging forehand passes in the first four points racing out to a 4-0 lead. Osaka threw down a serve winner for 5-0 before Sabalenka finally hit a forehand strike to get on the board.
Reading the wide serve, Osaka rocketed a 79 mph forehand return winner crosscourt and shouted “come on!” earning a fistful of set points at 6-1. Osaka closed an impressive set on a stray forehand from the top seed.
Accelerating the velocity on her drives, Sabalenka earned three break points in Osaka’s opening game of the second set.
Changing direction down the line, the world No. 15 saved all three break points. Osaka blistered a backhand down the line holding for 1-all.
Emotional hangover from that lost opportunity—and Osaka’s punishing return game—haunted Sabalenka in the next game. Osaka obliterated a second serve return, slamming a forehand return winner for break point. Sabalenka scattered a forehand to drop serve then bounced a stray ball high in the court in frustration falling behind 6-7, 1-2.
Playing her first real sloppy game of the match, Osaka could not consolidate as she double-faulted back the break.
Under stress on serve again, Osaka saved a break point in a sixth game that waged on for 12 minutes. Sabalenka hit a heavy approach and was in prime position for a routine forehand volley, but she badly bungled that shot wide and dropped her Wilson Blade in disgust as Osaka came through a hard-fought hold for 3-all.
The former world No. 1’s service games were becoming struggles so when Osaka raced out to a 40-Love lead in the eighth game, it had to feel reassuring.
Until Sabalenka stormed through five points in a row unleashing a series of crackling forehands to break again for 5-3. Sabalenka slid two aces in the final three points to close out the second set and force a decider after one hour, 41 minutes of play.
As the decider progressed, Sabalenka was hitting harder piling up pressure on the Japanese.
When Osaka missed a backhand down the line badly, she bounced her Yonex stick off the red clay in frustration facing double break point in the fifth game. Osaka saved both break points, including pumping an ace, but Sabalenka smacked a deep backhand return coaxing a netted backhand to break for 3-2.
The Belarusian rallied from 15-30 down to back up the break for 4-2. Osaka, who changed direction down the line so brilliantly in the opener, was misfiring on that play and when her forehand fell wide Sabalenka broke again for 5-2.
Stepping up to the line, Sabalenka stung that match-ending ace, raising her Madrid record to 26-4. Sabalenka is three wins from a fourth Madrid crown and six victories shy of her milestone 400th career victory.