Aryna Sabalenka defeated Peyton Stearns in straight sets at the Madrid Open to make a winning start to the European clay swing.

The world number one triumphed 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes to reach the third round, but did not have things all her own way in the Spanish capital.

After saving three break points in the opening game of the first set, Sabalenka saw her serve broken by Stearns, who then lost a service game of her own despite saving five break points.

Both players continued to struggle on serve, with a total of 14 break points on offer in the first, and Sabalenka made the crucial breakthrough in the 12th game to take the set.

It was a similar story in the second, with Sabalenka and Stearns exchanging breaks before the Belarusian converted a second break point to go 5-3 up.

Stearns then squandered two opportunities to bring the second set back on serve, with Sabalenka clinching victory with her second match point.

43 - Aryna Sabalenka has 43-7 record from her first 50 matches as the World No.1 in WTA-1000, only Serena Williams (45) managed more from her first 50 such matches since the format introduction in 2009. Stellar. #MMOPEN | @MutuaMadridOpen @WTA pic.twitter.com/6W5mt4wrNl

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) April 23, 2026

Jasmine Paolini, meanwhile, came from a set down to defeat Laura Siegemund in a two-hour-and-24-minute thriller.

The Italian won 3-6 6-2 6-4 and will face either Hailey Baptiste or Kaitlin Quevedo in the next round.

Data Debrief: 50 up for Sabalenka as world number one

This was Sabalenka's 50th WTA-1000 match as world number one, becoming the third player to reach this milestone since the format’s introduction in 2009 after Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka has a 43-7 record from her first 50 matches as the world number one in WTA-1000. Only Williams (45) has managed more from her first 50 such matches since the format's introduction.