World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka survived a tough challenge at the Mutua Madrid Open, defeating Robin Montgomery in 3 sets to set up a match against Danielle Collins, who extended her winning streak to 15 matches. Sabalenka admitted she had to serve and return well in both matches to secure the victory.
Last year, Sabalenka won her first WTA 1000 clay title in Madrid, defeating Iga Swiatek in the final. This year, however, Sabalenka has faced challenges in her matches at the tournament. Despite a patchy season, she managed to overcome Montgomery in a tight contest.
Danielle Collins will be Sabalenka’s next opponent after earning her spot in the Last 16. Collins, who is retiring later this year, has been in exceptional form recently, winning titles in Miami and Charleston. She secured her 15th straight win by defeating Jaqueline Cristian in Madrid.
Collins put her fighting qualities on display in both matches, winning against strong opponents. Now, she faces Sabalenka in what is expected to be a challenging encounter. Although Sabalenka has a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head matches, Collins will look to capitalize on her momentum from recent victories.
In another match, World No 4 Elena Rybakina defeated Mayar Sherif to advance to the Last 16. Rybakina showcased her aggressive style of play to secure the victory. She faces Sara Bejlek, an 18-year-old Czech qualifier, in the next round. Bejlek, who idolizes Rafa Nadal, has been impressive in her matches and will look to continue her success against Rybakina.
