In the electric atmosphere of the Madrid Open, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered a performance that not only secured her spot in the round of 16 but also left her in awe of her own resilience. Facing her former doubles partner, Elise Mertens, in a gripping third-round clash on April 27, 2025, Sabalenka battled back from a set down to clinch a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory. The Belarusian powerhouse, chasing her third Madrid title, admitted post-match that even she was caught off guard by her ability to turn the tide. “It’s always tough battles against Elise,” she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Today, she played incredible tennis, honestly.”
The match at Caja Magica’s center court began with Sabalenka asserting her dominance, roaring through 10 of the first 11 points, a display that seemed to promise another routine win in her 9-2 head-to-head record against Mertens. The two, who won doubles titles together at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, know each other’s games intimately, making their singles encounters fiercely competitive. But Mertens, ranked No. 26, flipped the script, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s early errors to win six of the next seven games and claim the first set—her first set off Sabalenka since 2019 in Zhuhai. The Belgian’s aggressive play and precise shot-making had the top seed reeling, and the Madrid crowd sensed an upset brewing.
Yet Sabalenka, a two-time Madrid champion in 2021 and 2023, refused to buckle. “I was trying to find the rhythm on my serve,” she explained in her on-court interview, pinpointing the moment her fortunes shifted. “The moment I started focusing on the timing, on not rushing the ball, on not overhitting, things really clicked.” Her adjustment was evident in the stats: after committing 14 unforced errors in the first set, she slashed that number to five in the second and nine in the third, while her winner count soared from seven to 24 across the final two sets. Mertens, meanwhile, struggled with mounting double faults, unable to withstand Sabalenka’s renewed intensity.
The second set saw Sabalenka unleash her trademark power, highlighted by a cheeky fake smash that sealed the set 6-2 and drew gasps and laughter from the crowd. By the third, she was in full control, firing six aces and winning 65.9% of her first-serve points to close out the match in just over two hours. “I’m really happy that I was able to bring such a high level in the second and third set, especially against someone like Elise,” Sabalenka reflected. “If you give her any chance, she’s going to be there fighting and putting you under pressure.”
This victory marked Sabalenka’s 10th career win over Mertens, joining an elite group of active WTA players—Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys—who have 10 or more victories against a single opponent. It also kept alive her hopes of a third Madrid final, having finished runner-up to Swiatek in 2024. Her next challenge will be against either Rebeka Masarova or Peyton Stearns, as she aims to reclaim the title in the Spanish capital.
The win comes on the heels of a rollercoaster clay season for Sabalenka, who suffered a stinging loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart Open final just days earlier. That defeat, coupled with a controversial line-call incident against Mertens in Stuttgart where Sabalenka photographed a disputed ball mark, had raised questions about her focus. Yet in Madrid, she showcased the mental fortitude that has made her a Grand Slam champion. “She’s such a great player,” Sabalenka said of Mertens. “It doesn’t matter the score between us, it’s always a great battle.”
As the tennis world buzzes, fans on social media are divided. Some praised Sabalenka’s grit, with one posting, “Aryna’s comeback game is unreal—she’s a beast!” Others noted Mertens’ valiant effort, lamenting her inability to sustain the early momentum. The match underscored the fine margins in elite tennis, where Sabalenka’s slight edge in second-serve points (39.67% to Mertens’ 40.55%) and breakpoint defense (50.16% to Mertens’ 51.52%) proved decisive.
With the French Open looming, Sabalenka’s Madrid performance signals her readiness to contend on clay. Her ability to adapt mid-match and surprise even herself bodes well for a deep run. As she prepares for her next test, the 26-year-old remains focused on her 20th career title, her recent Miami Open triumph still fresh. For now, Sabalenka’s Madrid magic continues to captivate, proving why she’s the player to beat.