Aryna Sabalenka survived a second-set scare to overcome Magda Linette 6-4 3-6 6-3 and reach the Madrid Open third round.
The defending champion got the job done in two hours and 12 minutes after recovering from a tricky second set, where the match was starting to unravel for the Belarusian.
This result continues Sabalenka’s 100 per cent record against Linette after four meetings, but the world No.2 won each of the three previous matches in straight sets, so this represents an improvement for the Pole.
Neither player gave much away in a cagey opener until Sabalenka managed to break through Linette’s serve and claimed the first set after a second set point.
Linette’s response left the two-time Grand Slam winner in a bit of a pickle, after breaking her serve for the first time to move 3-1 ahead and later going on to seal emphatic hold to love at 5-2.
The world No.2 had a break point advantage that came and went in the ninth game before the 32-year-old restored parity in her first set point.
The world No.48 continued to go toe-to-toe with Sabalenka in the decider, but her admirable resistance was ended when Sabalenka claimed her final break in the eighth game to go 5-3 in front and wrapped up the match on her own serve at 6-3.
Sabalenka could now face British No.1 Katie Boulter in the third round, if she beats Robin Montgomery later on Friday.
Speaking after the match Sabalenka said: “She’s a tough opponent who always provides me with tough battles.
“It was an up-and-down match today, but I was happy to be able to close it out and get through another one.”
Rybakina prevails past Bronzetti
Elena Rybakina booked her place into the third round of the Madrid Open with a 6-4 6-3 win over Lucia Bronzetti.
The world No.4 was made to sweat by the Italian at times, but ultimately progressed after a mere one hour and 16 minutes of play, setting up a meeting with either Marta Kostyuk or Mayar Sherif.
Bronzetti was emphatically broken on her opening serve to give the Kazakh a 2-0 lead, but managed an immediate break in an impressive early showing of resilience.
The 25-year-old failed in her attempts to prolong the set on her own serve, as Rybakina drew first blood after her first set point in the tenth game.
Bronzetti came out fighting at the start of the second, and emphatically broke Rybakina to love, but failed to continue that momentum and allowed the 2022 Wimbledon winner a break back.
The writing appeared to be on the wall when the Italian surrendered on her serve for a fourth time in the match to move 3-1 down, and Rybakina did not look back from that point to win the contest after her first match point.
Speaking after the match, she said: “Really happy with the win. I struggled a bit here and there. Overall, I think it was a good match.
“The first set was quite close. I was getting a little frustrated with easy mistakes. Also my first serve percentage wasn’t the greatest throughout the whole match. There are things to improve. Hopefully the next match is going to be better.”