Madrid Open: Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff advance but Petra Kvitova suffers shock defeat ahead of French Open

Updated 27/04/2023 at 23:29 GMT

Aryna Sabalenka got revenge on Sorana Cirstea for defeat in Miami as she progressed in Madrid. Maria Sakkari ended a poor run of form - which saw her lose her last three matches - with a battling victory over Arantxa Rus. Coco Gauff advanced in record breaking fashion but there was no such joy for Petra Kvitova, with the three time champion crashing out.

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World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka is through to the next round of the Madrid Open after overcoming a tough test against Sorana Cirstea, winning 6-4 6-3.

After defeat to Iga Swiatek in the final of the Stuttgart Open, Sabalenka arrived in the Spanish capital eager to put that disappointment behind her. As well as this, the memory of a Miami Open defeat to Cirstea was also sitting fresh.

Sabalenka came out with clear renewed fire in her belly and broke to love in the opening game before holding without reply as she set the marker of just how tough a match her opponent was in for.

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However, Cirstea found her composure to bring herself back into the encounter and broke back to leave the first set at 3-3.

Sabalenka broke once more though, before going on to convert a second set point.

The Belarusian, who has desires to snatch Swiatek’s position at the top of the world rankings, found herself in a spot of bother at the start of the second set as she gave up three break points to Cirstea.

However, she saved each one with powerful service play. Cirstea was made to pay for those missed opportunities as Sabalenka broke in the very next game with the breakpoint seeing Cirstea hit a wild forehand into the tramline having previously looked in control of the point.

Sloppy play from both players saw breaks of service traded before Sabalenka saved two break points to open up a 4-2 lead and edge closer to the next round. She saw out the tie by breaking Cirstea’s serve once more and will play Camila Osorio next.

Maria Sakkari is also through to the third round after a straight-sets win over Arantxa Rus in the pre-French Open event.

The Greek star put recent sickness behind her - which left her unable to train - to take her first win of the season on clay.

Sakkari arrived in the Spanish capital on the back of three straight defeats. After losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, she went on to first-round defeats at the Miami Open and Stuttgart Open.

After an early break in the first set, Sakkari served out to take the advantage.

A crucial moment came at the start of the second as, after breaking Rus in the opening game of the set, Sakkari erased her opponent's triple break point to hold.

The Greek player did not have it all her own way, though. She lost her serve, and her cool during a feisty encounter with the umpire, but the world No. 9 battled through to take victory 6-4 6-4.

She will face wild card Rebeka Masarova next, after she beat Donna Vekic in straight sets.

Coco Gauff is also through after a largely dominant performance saw her defeat Irene Burillo 6-4 6-1.

The 19-year-old started slowly and was a break down in the first set but quickly turned the match in her favour.

Victory sees Gauff become the first teenage player to win 35 WTA 1000 main draw matches since 2009.

Three-time champion Petra Kvitova suffered a shock exit, going out against Germany’s Jule Niemeier.

Paula Badosa battled through an injury scare to reach the next round after eventually overcoming Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 4-6 6-4 in a tightly contested clash.

Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva continued her astonishing run with victory over world No.14 Beatriz Haddad Maia.

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