Aryna Sabalenka has extended her winning streak to 13. On Thursday, April 23, the World No. 1 tennis player won her opening campaign and first victory in clay court at the ongoing Madrid Open 2026. The Belarusian defeated America’s Peyton Sterns in the second round game. She is coming off an explosive season by winning the Sunshine Double including titles at the Indian Wells and Miami Open.
Despite committing 26 unforced errors she defeated Sterns by sets of 7-5, 6-3 in the Spanish capital. The defending champion is aiming to add her career fourth title at the Caja Magica.
She converted four of 12 break points against Stearns, struggled with five double-faults, and dropped serve twice. But she managed to go past all through and cross the finishing line before the American. With the win, she has set herself for the next clash in the third-round against Romanian Jaqueline Cristian.
Expressing her excitement on the victory in her first win of the Madrid Open Sabalenka said, “I’m super happy to start with a win, even though maybe the tennis wasn’t that good, but I felt like with every game I was playing, the better I was playing, so I really hope in the next one I bring a better performance.”
The Belarusian has recorded an impressive 24 wins from her 25 matches played so far in 2026.
Earlier, Iga Swiatek edged past Daria Snigur to secure her first win at the Caja Magica. The Polish star and fourth seed won in straight sets of 6-1, 6-2. Snigur was coming off her first tour-level main draw win of her career against Daria Kasatkina.
Swiatek was in good form in the second set since winning her fourth Roland Garros crown two years ago. She is playing her second tournament under new coach Francis Roig.
“I’m very happy. Madrid is a special place to play, because of how special the tournament is, but also because of the conditions, so I’m happy that I adjusted well to them and was solid and just played my game,” Swiatek said.
On the other hand, Hungarian world No. 63 Anna Bondar defeated seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina by sets of 6-3, 6-4 to claim her first top-10 victory in her career.
Meanwhile, 11th seed Belinda Bencic edged past Petra Marcinko by sets of 6-4, 6-2 to next face Russia’s 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka won her first game of the clay-court campaign over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. She will next face Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for the last 16 spot.
