World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka starts strong in Madrid with Anna Blinkova win

Aryna Sabalenka is through to the third round in one of her favourite tournaments, the Madrid Open after taking down Anna Blinkova in two sets on Friday. It was a 6-3, 6-4 win for the World No.1.

Sabalenka could yet meet Elise Mertens again who she saw off in Stuttgart albeit with the infamous line call drama which saw her take out her phone to take pictures after it didn't go her way.

It was Sabalenka's 27th win of the season. She is a two-time champion in Madrid having also reached the final there last year losing to Iga Swiatek and if she does manage to win through, she would tie with Petra Kvitova for titles all time.

Kvitova lost early to Katie Volynets so will not be adding to her tally. She faces either Mertens or Camila Osorio who is one of the only title winners on clay this season having won the Copa Colsanitas in Bogota.

In the previous round, Blinkova defeated Panna Udvardy 6-4, 6-2 but couldn't find a way to trouble Sabalenka who made light work of her opener which on paper was a potential banana skin but was navigated pretty comfortably.

Other victors included Jasmine Paolini who eased past Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-2. Maria Sakkari continues to bundle wins together, she saw off Magda Linette 7-6(5), 6-3.

Interesting of course to note that she has teamed up again with former coach Tom Hill for this tournament who she had most of her success with and is now back.

Daria Kasatkina also came from behind to see off Alycia Parks 62, 7-5. Veronika Kudermetova saw off Cristina Bucsa who replaced Paula Badosa who withdrew earlier today. Ekaterina Alexandrova also made light work of Olga Danilovic.

Former champion Ons Jabeur though is out with the Tunisian who has fared so well on this surface before being dumped out by Moyuka Uchijima 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Peyton Stearns is also a set up on Amanda Anisimova but is a break down in the second.