Aryna Sabalenka didn’t get into any drama today as the top seed routed world No. 44 Peyton Stearns 6-2 6-3 to progress into the Madrid Open quarterfinal.
Two days earlier, the Belarusian had to come back from a set down to beat Elise Mertens at Caja Magica.
But today, Sabalenka meant business right from the start and clinched the first set with two breaks. In the second set, the three-time Grand Slam champion blew an early break but it wasn’t big of a problem since she took Stearns’ serve again in the ninth game and put an end to the match in the following game.
