Sabalenka Soars Past Cirstea, Gauff, Garcia Advance At Madrid Masters; Swiatek Tomorrow

The second round opened up in the Madrid Masters women’s draw with former champion and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka leading the way with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

Sabalenka had lost to Cirstea in their only previous meeting back in Miami, so today she had her revenge.

“It was a great match,” Sabalenka said to the WTA. “I didn’t hit on the center court since I arrived in Stuttgart. I’m super happy to get this win, especially against a player I lost to recently. So it was very important for me. I was happy with the way I was focused and fighting for every point no matter what.”

The Australian Open champion tallied seven aces, was a perfect 5 of 5 on break chances. In both sets, Sabalenka got an early break before Cirstea leveled, then broke again to all but secure the set. Sabalenka saved a break point serving for the opener.

No. 5 Caroline Garcia moved past Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4 behind a whopping 18 aces to zero double faults.

American teen Coco Gauff advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Irene Burillo Escorihuela.

No. 9 Maria Sakkari took out Arantxa Rus of Netherlands 6-4, 6-4.

Wimbledon quarterfinalist Jule Niemeier of Germany upended former champion Petra Kvitova 7-6(11-9), 6-1 in the upset of the day.

Magda Linette edged (23y,82r) Marketa Vondrousova 7-6(7-1), 4-6, 6-4 and the 19th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko dusted the teen Linda Fruhvirtova in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.

Elise Mertens, Paula Badosa, Shelby Rogers also advanced. The 15-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva upended No. 13 Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-6(8-6), 6-3.

“Yes, I’m a bit surprised but also everyone was telling me they are playing the same level as you, they are just more consistent,” Andreeva told the WTA. “Their mental level is different but the game-level is almost the same.

“I feel a bit weird because it’s my second WTA tournament and my first was in Monastir, but there were not a lot of famous players. Here almost every day I see Andy Murray, Daniil Medvedev and all the players from home. They say hi to me and I’m like, ‘Wow, how come they know me?’ So, yes, it’s pretty great.”

Looking at tomorrow, key second round matches include iNo. 1 Iga Swiatek taking on lucky loser Julia Grabher in a first-time tour-level collision

Jessica Pegula will challenge Magdalena Frech. Pegula won their only previous clash in 2021 in Chicago.

No. 7 Elena Rybakina will battle Anna Kalinskaya, No. 8 Daria Kasatkina will meet former French finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, No. 11 Barbora Krejcikova will battle Danka Kovinic, No. 12 Veronika Kudermetova draws Nuria Parrizas Diaz and former winner Victoria Azarenka faces Alycia Parks.

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