World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka overcame Naomi Osaka 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping battle on Monday to reach the Madrid Open quarterfinals.
Tiger mentality 🐯@SabalenkaA comes back to defeat Osaka and return to the quarterfinals in Madrid!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/ZPZK1HlsRY
— wta (@WTA) April 27, 2026
Third seed Coco Gauff was eliminated in a three-set battle with Linda Noskova decided on a final set tie-break.
Sabalenka, who has claimed titles at Miami, Indian Wells and Brisbane this year, was tested by her Japanese opponent in the fourth-round clash but came back from a set and a break down to triumph.
"I was just trying to take one ball at a time and my team was there for me, they really (pushed) me to keep fighting, and I'm really happy that I didn't give up and I was pushing until the very last point," said Sabalenka on court.
150th WTA 1000 win! 🫰@SabalenkaA | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/sH0UjAwQjF
— wta (@WTA) April 27, 2026
She later told reporters: "When (she) put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. So I'm happy."
The first set between the two four-time Grand Slam winners was tight, with only one break point forced, by Sabalenka, which Osaka saved to hold for 2-1.
Osaka dominated in the tie-break, ripping into a 5-0 lead and then triumphing when Sabalenka lashed a return wide.
Bringing her A-game 💯@naomiosaka takes the first set against Sabalenka 7-6(1)!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/BL0uTrg737
— wta (@WTA) April 27, 2026
Sabalenka stepped up a gear in the second frame, although world number 15 Osaka dug deep to survive three break points and then managed to engineer a break for herself to take a 2-1 lead.
However, the Belarusian immediately broke to love and then again in the eighth game, serving out to take the second set.
Only Elena Rybakina has beaten Sabalenka this year, in the Australian Open final, and the 27-year-old dominated in the third set, securing breaks in the fifth and seventh games while Osaka could not put pressure on her opponent's serve.
Sabalenka sealed her victory serving to love with an ace to reach the last eight, where she will face American Hailey Baptiste, who beat Belinda Bencic in three sets, including losing a tie break 16-14 in the second.
"She's an incredible player, we had a really tight match in Miami, and especially here in Madrid I think this surface suits her game," added Sabalenka.
'MATCH HER IN POWER'
Osaka said she was happy with pushing Sabalenka to the wire after going down in straight sets when they met at Indian Wells.
"I feel like every game was super close. I think... I could potentially match her in power," said Osaka.
"I feel like in Indian Wells I was a little overwhelmed. Here I did a little bit better.
"Obviously she's the No 1 player in the world, so it was a really cool match for me to know that I'm kind of there."
World No 3 Gauff, who had been dealing with a stomach bug this week, fell to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5) defeat by Noskova.
Coming out on 🔝
— wta (@WTA) April 27, 2026
A big win for Linda Noskova against Gauff to move into her first Madrid quarterfinal!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/29tskA3xqu
The Czech earned a decisive break in the fifth game of the first set, but American Gauff secured two of her own to claim the second.
Gauff moved two breaks up in the third but let the match slip away from her as Noskova pulled back to level 4-4.
The American led 3-0 in the tie break before again could not hold on.