MADRID (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied to defeat former doubles partner Elise Mertens in three sets and advance to the last 16 of the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Defending men's champion Andrey Rublev lost in three sets to Alexander Bublik.
Sabalenka got off to a poor start against the 26th-ranked Mertens, but picked up the pace to comfortably close out the match at the Caja Magica center court.
The two-time champion in Madrid won 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to keep alive her hopes of reaching the final for the third straight time. Sabalenka won the title in the Spanish capital in 2021 and 2023, and finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek last year.
"I think it's one of those days where I didn't feel my best and I got super emotional in that beginning of the first set and put myself in a tough situation," Sabalenka said. "I'm really happy that I was able to bring such a high level in the second and the third set, especially against someone like Elise, if you give her any chance, she's going to be there fighting and putting you under pressure, so really happy with the way I turned around this game."