In the vibrant clay courts of the 2025 Madrid Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and two-time champion, showcased her formidable prowess by storming into the quarterfinals with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Peyton Stearns on April 29. Unlike her previous match’s nail-biting comeback against Elise Mertens, where she battled from a set down, Sabalenka was all business this time at the Caja Magica, avoiding the drama that has occasionally marked her campaign. Her clinical performance, coupled with a newfound composure, has solidified her status as a leading contender for a third Madrid title, setting the stage for a thrilling quarterfinal clash against Marta Kostyuk.
Sabalenka’s journey to the quarterfinals has been a testament to her growth as a player and a champion. Two days prior, she faced a stern test from Mertens, her former doubles partner, in a three-set thriller that ended 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. “It’s always tough battles against Elise,” Sabalenka reflected, crediting her ability to “find the rhythm on my serve” for turning the match around. Against Stearns, ranked world No. 44, the Belarusian was relentless from the outset, securing two breaks in the first set to wrap it up in just 34 minutes. The second set saw a brief hiccup when Sabalenka lost an early break, but her resilience shone through as she broke Stearns again in the ninth game, sealing the match with a commanding service game. Her efficiency was striking—she converted four of seven break-point opportunities while saving an astonishing 12 of 13 break points against her, a statistic that underscored her defensive tenacity.
The match was a masterclass in controlled aggression, a hallmark of Sabalenka’s evolution since her first Madrid title in 2021. Her powerful groundstrokes, which produced 18 winners, were complemented by a strategic patience that prevented the unforced errors that plagued her in past tournaments. “The moment I started focusing on the timing, on not rushing the ball, on not overhitting, things really clicked,” she had said after the Mertens match, a mindset that carried into her dominant display against Stearns. This consistency has been a cornerstone of her 2025 season, with 27 wins in 32 matches, including titles in Brisbane and Miami, and now a 14-1 record in her last 15 Madrid matches.
Sabalenka’s path to the quarterfinals began with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anna Blinkova, a match that saw her fend off a late resurgence to maintain her perfect record as a world No. 1 debutant at Madrid. Her affinity for the tournament, where she also won in 2023 and reached the final in 2024, is evident. “I feel really good,” she said of playing on clay, a surface where she has clinched two of her nine career finals, despite the French Open remaining a “challenge.” Her next opponent, Kostyuk, presents a familiar foe. Sabalenka holds a 2-0 head-to-head lead, having triumphed in Dubai 2022 and the 2023 French Open, but Kostyuk’s recent form, including a stellar performance in Madrid, promises a fierce battle.
The Madrid Open, already rocked by a national power outage that disrupted play, has found a steady force in Sabalenka. Her ability to navigate both on-court challenges and external chaos, like the blackout that left players using phone flashlights, highlights her mental fortitude. As she prepares for Kostyuk, fans are buzzing with anticipation, with posts on social media hailing her as a likely finalist. With a potential semifinal against Iga Swiatek looming, Sabalenka’s quest for a third Madrid crown is a narrative of power, precision, and poise—a champion hitting her stride at just the right moment.
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