MADRID (AP) — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faced tough resistance in her opening match at the Madrid Open before beating Magda Linette 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday.
The second-ranked Sabalenka struggled with her serve at times, but the two-time Australian Open winner struck her 10th ace on match point at the Caja Magica in Spain’s capital.
Sabalenka got some help from the net to get a key break and go up 5-3 in the third set when Linette was unable to reach a shot by the Belarusian that clipped the top of the tape.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek won her opening match on Thursday. Sabalenka beat Swiatek in last year’s final in Madrid and also won here in 2021.
Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3, while American Ashlyn Krueger downed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3.
Mirra Andreeva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Carolina Garcia, and Jasmine Paolini also advanced.
Syrian first lady Asma Assad diagnosed with leukemia, president's office says
Efforts to Improve Child Development in Rural Areas
Archaeology Forum Held in Shanghai, Highlighting Climate Change, Social Sustainability
Scheffler back to work at Colonial and Stricker returns to Senior PGA in Michigan
China Issues Commemorative Stamps, Envelopes Featuring BRI
Small Chinese Town Goes Big with Magic of Animation
China's 40th Antarctic Scientific Expedition Begins
Devers sets Red Sox record by homering in his 6th consecutive game
'Spring Bud Gas Station' Project Wins Award at 2023 IFENG Action League Ceremony
Juneteenth proclaimed state holiday again in Alabama, after bill to make it permanent falters
Xinhua Headlines: Rescuers Battle Cold, Aftershocks to Help NW China Earthquake Victims