Sabalenka, Baptiste reconverge in Madrid
MADRID — With the eight quarterfinalists being decided Monday on the Mutua Madrid Open, the primary two quarterfinals are set on the fifth WTA Driven by Mercedes-Benz 1000 occasion of the season.
Over Tuesday and Wednesday, the 4 singles quarterfinals might be break up throughout the 2 days, with one featured in each the day and evening periods. Leylah Fernandez and Mirra Andreeva meet in the day session Tuesday whereas Aryna Sabalenka and Hailey Baptiste begin the evening session at La Caja Mágica.
Here’s all the things to learn about Tuesday’s quarterfinals:
Order of play
Manolo Santana
11:00 am, ATP singles
NB 1:00 pm, Fernandez vs. Andreeva
NB 4:00 pm, ATP singles
NB 8:00 pm Sabalenka vs. Baptiste
Fernandez vs. Andreeva preview
Head-to-Head: Tied at 1-1
Last assembly: Fernandez 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 at 2023 Hong Kong Round of 16
Fernandez has began to search out her type with a transition to the clay. After a tough begin to the season in singles, the place she had early exits on the Australian Open, Doha and Indian Wells, she’s now reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Stuttgart and now Madrid.
“We’ve been working hard,” Fernandez mentioned Monday previous to Andreeva’s win. “To see the results coming in feels good and the way that I’m doing it with calm and positivity, it’s the right way.”
In Stuttgart, she virtually reached the semifinals, forcing eventual champion Elena Rybakina to save lots of match factors in a three-set basic. In Madrid, she’s remained calm below the strain with a pair straight-sets wins and a comeback over No. 15 seed Iva Jovic to achieve her first quarterfinal on the occasion. The Canadian seeks its first semifinal since Hong Kong on the finish of final season.
“Either player’s going to be a tough,” Fernandez mentioned. “I just gotta focus on myself, trust my own process, and hopefully things go well.”
As for Andreeva, following routine wins in second and third spherical matches, Anna Bondar definitely examined the 18-year outdated. After dropping the primary set in the tiebreak, Andreeva bounced again in to a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5) tense win that noticed the World No. 8 lose a 5-1 lead. Still, she gained, however will now must shortly get well for a day match Monday.
In the clay season as an entire, Andreeva has impressed. With a final minute entry in Linz, she gained her second 500-title of the season. In Stuttgart, she reached the semifinals, falling to Rybakina, and she or he’s now again in the Madrid quarterfinals for the third straight yr.
“Of course Leylah is a tricky opponent to play against,” Andreeva mentioned. “I’ll talk to Conchita [Martinez] about the match, about what we have to do, about the plan as well.”
Sabalenka vs. Baptiste preview
Head-to-Head: Sabalenka leads 1-0
Last assembly: Sabalenka 6-4, 6-4 at 2026 Miami Open quarterfinals
For the second time in as many WTA 1000 tournaments, Sabalenka and Baptiste meet once more in the quarterfinals. The first matchup, again on the Miami Open quarters, Sabalenka edged out the American 6-4, 6-4 en path to in the end her second straight Miami title and a 2026 Sunshine Double.
The distinction in that matchup, which was their earlier lone, was Sabalenka’s three breaks of serving to Baptiste’s one. However, Baptiste is beginning to discover a rhythm — that match in Miami was simply her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal for the now World No. 32. Plus, it will likely be a totally completely different floor, although simply as she did in Miami, Baptiste will go towards the defending champion.
“I think that I should continue the way I’ve been playing, playing my game,” Baptiste mentioned. “If I can just be a little bit more solid and maybe give her a little bit tougher time on her service games than I think that I have a chance to win, and I believe that I can win.”
Baptiste comes off an exhilarating three-set win over Belinda Bencic. Baptiste bounced again after dropping the longest tiebreak of the season (16-14), the place Bencic saved six match factors to power a choice. Ultimately, Baptiste gained her eighth WTA 1000 most important draw win of the 2026 season, equaling her most in her profession (2025).
As for Sabalenka, along with her comeback 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over Naomi Osaka Monday, she equaled her longest win streak in WTA 1000 occasions with 15 from Indian Wells to now, simply as many as her stretch from Miami to Madrid and Rome quarters in 2025.
If anybody is aware of Madrid, it is the three-time champion of the occasion Sabalenka. The World No. 1 is taking part in like a World No. 1, profitable her final 15 matches with titles at Indian Wells and Miami, although in the event you ask her concerning the streak, she would not give it some thought.
“I’m just trying to play every match as good as possible, and basically that’s where my focus is,” Sabalenka mentioned.
