Sabalenka stretches Madrid streak to 11, reaches final again
Aryna Sabalenka edged out Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) on Thursday evening. She’ll face Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, for the title
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, edged out Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the No 4 seed, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) to reach the final of the Madrid Open at the Caja Magica on Thursday evening.
Sabalenka, ranked No 2, will play Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, next.
Earlier in the tournament, the Belarusian won against Pole Magda Linette (6-4, 3-6, 6-3), American wildcard Robin Montgomery (6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4), American Danielle Collins, the No 13 seed (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) and Russian Mirra Andreeva (6-1, 6-4).
Rybakina, ranked No 4, beat Italian Lucia Bronzetti (6-4, 6-3), Egyptian Mayar Sherif (6-1, 6-4), qualifier Sara Bejlek (6-1, 6-3) and Yulia Putintseva (4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5) in the previous rounds of the Madrid tournament.
Madrid WTA 1000, other semi-final result (Caja Magica, clay, USD 8.770.480):
- Iga Swiatek beat Madison Keys (18): 6-1, 6-3