(Photo credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Hungary’s Anna Bondar delivered a 6-3, 6-4 upset of No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine within the second spherical of the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday.
It was the primary profession top-10 win for Bondar, who superior to face Czech teenager Laura Samson within the third spherical of the WTA 1000 clay-court event.
Bondar struck six aces and saved all six break factors she confronted within the 87-minute win over Svitolina, ending with 27 winners and simply 9 unforced errors. She was the primary Hungarian lady to defeat a top-10 opponent since Timea Babos on the 2018 Australian Open.
‘I knew I needed to convey my ‘A’ recreation, which I believe I did at this time,’ Bondar stated in her on-court interview. ‘I performed in opposition to her 3 times final yr, so I knew what to anticipate. I believe the situations match my recreation right here rather well — I like to make use of my heavy forehand, so I believe that was one of many keys at this time.’
Svitolina acquired remedy on her ankle throughout a medical timeout whereas trailing 3-2 within the second set.
Bondar’s subsequent opponent, the 18-year-old Samson, grew to become the primary participant born in 2008 or later to succeed in the third spherical on the WTA 1000 degree or above. Samson defeated No. 28 seed Xinyu Wang of China 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Three-time Madrid champion and top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus superior with a 7-5, 6-3 victory in opposition to Peyton Stearns. Sabalenka transformed 4 of 13 break factors throughout 95-minute match.
‘I’m simply glad that I bought the win,’ Sabalenka stated. ‘Maybe not that stunning, however I felt by the tip of the match, I felt a lot better on courtroom.
‘It wasn’t a simple one. I did my work earlier than coming right here, however altitude and these courts and her recreation, it wasn’t simple.’
Up subsequent for Sabalenka, who’s on a 13-match successful streak, is No. 29 seed Jacqueline Cristian of Romania. Cristian rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win in opposition to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in 3 hours and 6 minutes.
No. 4 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, the 2024 Madrid champion, made fast work of Ukraine’s Daria Snigur with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in simply 61 minutes.
Swiatek’s third-round opponent will likely be No. 31 seed Ann Li, who outlasted her American compatriot Alycia Parks 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
Also reaching the third spherical have been No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy, No. 9 Mirra Andreeva of Russia, No. 11 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, No. 14 Naomi Osaka of Japan, No. 15 Iva Jovic, No. 18 Diana Shnaider of Russia, No. 24 Leylah Fernandez of Canada and No. 30 Hailey Baptiste.
–Field Level Media