World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka overcame Naomi Osaka 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping battle on Monday to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, who has claimed titles at Miami, Indian Wells and Brisbane this year, was tested by her Japanese opponent in the fourth-round clash but came back from a set down and a break down to triumph.
“I was just trying to take one ball at a time and my team was there for me, they really [pushed] me to keep fighting, and I’m really happy that I didn’t give up and I was pushing until the very last point,” said Sabalenka.
The first set between the two four-time Grand Slam winners was tight, with only one break point forced, by Sabalenka, which Osaka saved to hold for 2-1.
Osaka dominated in the tie-break, ripping into a 5-0 lead and then triumphing when Sabalenka lashed a return wide.
Sabalenka stepped up a gear in the second set, although world No 15 Osaka dug deep to survive three break points and then managed to engineer a break for herself to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Belarusian immediately broke to love and then again in the eighth game, serving out to take the second set.
Only Elena Rybakina has beaten Sabalenka this year, in the Australian Open final, and the 27-year-old dominated in the third set, securing breaks in the fifth and seventh games while Osaka could not put pressure on her opponent’s serve.
Sabalenka sealed her victory serving to love with an ace to reach the last eight, where she will face American Hailey Baptiste.
“She’s an incredible player, we had a really tight match in Miami, and especially here in Madrid where I think this surface suits her game,” added Sabalenka.
In the men’s draw Casper Ruud eased to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the last 16, while Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Daniel Merida 6-4, 6-2.
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