MADRID — Prime seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored snug victories of their opening matches on the Madrid Open on Friday.
Zverev cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over residence favourite Roberto Bautista Agut, whereas Sabalenka triumphed 6-3, 6-4 in opposition to qualifier Anna Blinkova.
Zverev, the Madrid champion in 2018 and 2021, wanted solely 69 minutes to increase his profitable streak to 6 matches. The German participant moved to No. 2 on the earth after capturing the Munich title final week.
“A superb match, I knew I needed to focus in opposition to Roberto,” stated Zverev, who improved to 24-5 in Madrid. “I knew that it was going to be a tricky problem. That is my favourite heart courtroom on the earth, I solely misplaced twice right here in my total life. I hope that stays the best way all through the subsequent 10 days and that I can proceed taking part in good tennis.”
Within the third spherical, Zverev faces Nuno Borges or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Sabalenka, winner in Madrid in 2021 and 2023 and final yr’s runner-up to Iga Swiatek, transformed three of her seven break alternatives to defeat the 76th-ranked Blinkova.
The highest-ranked Sabalenka will face No. 28 seed Elise Mertens within the third spherical.
Anastasia Potapova upset eighth-seeded Qinwen Zheng, whereas Fifteenth-seed Amanda Anisimova misplaced 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to fellow American Peyton Stearns. Sixth-seeded Jasmine Paolini eased previous Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-2.
In different motion on the boys’s facet, fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz of the U.S. routed Christopher O’Connell of Britain 6-1, 6-4, and Casper Ruud beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight units, whereas Daniil Medvedev superior after Laslo Djere withdrew.