Sabalenka fights back to beat Osaka at Madrid Open

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

World number one Aryna Sabalenka came from a set and a break down to beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the fourth round of the Miami Open and progress to the quarter-finals.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka secured her 15th consecutive victory of the year – and ninth in a row in Madrid – by winning 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.

The 27-year-old had not lost a match in the Spanish capital since 2023, but she was tested early on by fellow four-time major winner Osaka, who was playing some of her strongest tennis of the season.

Also in the last 16 on Monday, American third seed Coco Gauff suffered a 4-6 6-1 6-7 (5-6) defeat by Czech Linda Noskova.

Gauff, who was lost to Sabalenka in the Madrid final last year, was 4-1 up in the final set and 4-2 ahead in the deciding tie-break before Noskova, seeded 13th, battled back twice to claim her spot in the last eight.