Tennis

Danielle Collins' impressive 15-match winning streak came to an abrupt end at the Mutua Madrid Open, as defending champion Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set down to secure a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.The match, which concluded well past midnight Tuesday, saw Collins come within a point of serving for the match in the second set. However, Sabalenka's resilience shone through as she saved two break points and held her serve.The momentum shifted dramatically in Sabalenka's favor after that crucial hold. The world No. 2 seed reeled off six consecutive games, breaking Collins' serve twice in the process. Collins managed to break back once, but it was too little too late.Sabalenka's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Mirra Andreeva, who upset reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round. Sabalenka will be aiming to lift her third trophy at the WTA 1000 event in four years.The Belarusian star is also in contention to retain her No. 2 ranking in the WTA standings. She needs to reach the final to prevent Coco Gauff from overtaking her.Collins' defeat marks her first loss since the second round of Indian Wells, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. Despite the setback, Collins has enjoyed a remarkable season, winning titles in Miami and Charleston as an unseeded entrant.

Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, faced a stern test in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open against unseeded Pavel Kotov. Despite being the No. 1 seed, Sinner struggled to find his usual rhythm and was broken twice in the first set. However, the Italian showed his resilience, saving a set point and rallying from 5-3 down in the second set to secure a 6-2, 7-5 victory.Kotov, ranked No. 72 in the world, had upset Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Jordan Thompson to earn his shot at Sinner. The Russian played with determination, but lacked the consistency to capitalize on his opportunities. Sinner, despite hitting more winners and making fewer unforced errors, struggled to find his usual crispness.In the second set, Kotov broke Sinner's serve three times in a row to take a 5-3 lead. However, Sinner refused to give up. He broke back immediately and held serve to level the set at 5-5. In the ninth game, Kotov had a set point, but Sinner saved it with a powerful forehand.The momentum had shifted in Sinner's favor. He broke Kotov's serve again in the 11th game and served for the match. Kotov saved three match points, but Sinner eventually sealed the victory on his fourth attempt.Sinner's win marks his first appearance in the last 16 in Madrid. He will face either No. 16 seed Karen Khachanov or his compatriot, Flavio Cobolli, in the fourth round.

Rafael Nadal's farewell tour continues to gather momentum as the legendary Spaniard reached the fourth round of the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open with a hard-fought 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 victory over Pedro Cachin.Nadal, who is expected to retire after the Laver Cup in September, has now won three consecutive matches, his longest winning streak since the 2022 US Open. The 37-year-old overcame a spirited challenge from Cachin, who upset Frances Tiafoe in the second round.Nadal started the match strongly, racing to a 5-1 lead in the first set. However, Cachin fought back in the second set, taking a double-break lead and forcing a tiebreaker. Nadal saved two set points but ultimately lost the set 7-5.Undeterred, Nadal broke Cachin in the opening game of the third set and never looked back. He held his serve throughout the set and broke Cachin again in the ninth game to seal the victory.Nadal's next opponent will be No. 30 seed Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Thiago Monteiro in straight sets.Nadal's performance in Madrid has been a testament to his enduring spirit and determination. Despite his age and recent injury struggles, he continues to compete at the highest level. His victory over Cachin was a reminder of his greatness and a fitting tribute to his illustrious career.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has faced a unique challenge at the Mutua Madrid Open: navigating the tournament's smaller courts. Unlike the spacious central court, the other courts have presented Medvedev with limited room to maneuver, forcing him to adapt his trademark deep return position."The courts here except the central court are a bit smaller than I would like, so I play like someone is pushing me in the back," Medvedev explained. "Even though my serve doesn't need that much space, the feeling is still there."Despite the cramped conditions, Medvedev has managed to survive two tight three-setters. After rallying past Matteo Arnaldi in the second round, he faced a stern test against Sebastian Korda. Holding from deuce at both 4-5 and 5-6 in the second set, Medvedev eventually secured the lone break of their deciding set before serving out the match."Especially on clay, I feel like you need more space than on hard court," Medvedev said. "The ball is bouncing higher. I like to take it on the low, you need like two more meters than (what) is here."Medvedev's second-serve strategy has also been a work in progress. "I'm always questioning myself," he admitted. "Do I step in where I don't feel the most comfortable? Do I stay back and have the chance that I'm gonna have a tough ball to play anyway?"Despite the challenges, Medvedev has advanced to the fourth round, where he will face Alexander Bublik. The No. 17 seed has lost all five of his prior encounters with Medvedev, but the Russian is taking nothing for granted."I'm really happy with what happened today," Medvedev said. "I'm just trying to find my way, trying to find my game, trying to find my rhythm."

The Mutua Madrid Open's Round of 16 features an intriguing all-American clash between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff. While Keys excels on grass, she's also formidable on clay, boasting a 67-44 record. Gauff, known for her clay-court prowess, has a 38-15 record on the surface.Keys has impressed in Madrid, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets. The altitude and slower bounce of the clay enhance her power and give her more time to execute her shots.Gauff's clay-court game is equally impressive, but Keys' ability to attack her forehand and exploit her shaky serve could prove problematic. Keys' return game is strong, breaking 40.0% of the time on clay over the past year.While Gauff is favored to win, Keys has the potential to force a tiebreaker or win four games in both sets. Her strong serve and ability to capitalize on Gauff's lows make her a threat.

Iga Swiatek's dominance at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open continued unabated as she dispatched Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1, 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals. The top seed has been in imperious form, dropping just eight games in her first three matches.Swiatek's victory over Sorribes Tormo was a masterclass in clay-court tennis. The Pole matched her opponent's topspin with her own, and her aggressive approach to the net proved too much for the Spaniard. Swiatek struck a stunning 27 winners to just 14 unforced errors and converted six of nine break point opportunities.Sorribes Tormo, a former world No. 32, had upset Victoria Azarenka in the third round, but she was no match for Swiatek's relentless power and precision. The Spaniard managed to break Swiatek in the opening game, but the world No. 1 responded with a break of her own and never looked back.In the quarterfinals, Swiatek will face No. 11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who upset No. 5 seed Maria Sakkari. Swiatek has a 1-1 record against Haddad Maia, but she will be the heavy favorite to advance to the semifinals.Another player who has impressed in Madrid is Ons Jabeur. The No. 8 seed knocked out No. 9 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals. Jabeur will face the winner of the all-American fourth round between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff.The 2024 Mutua Madrid Open is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament, with Swiatek and Jabeur emerging as the favorites. The quarterfinals promise to be filled with exciting matches, and the fans in Madrid are in for a treat.

Taylor Fritz, the American tennis star, has regained his winning form after a disappointing start to the European clay-court season. Following his loss in Monte Carlo, Fritz has triumphed in five of his last six matches, including a dominant victory over Sebastian Baez at the Mutua Madrid Open.Fritz, seeded 12th in Madrid, dispatched Baez, the 18th seed, in straight sets (6-2, 6-3). The American maintained his unblemished head-to-head record against Baez, having won all 10 sets they have played. Fritz's victory was particularly impressive considering Baez's strong performance on red dirt this season, with a 15-4 record prior to their encounter.Fritz's success in Madrid is a testament to his adaptability and willingness to experiment with his game. "I think there's more variety in my game in general," Fritz said after the match. "I was drop-shotting, I was moon-balling, I was doing a bit of everything."Fritz's victory sets up a fourth-round clash with Hubert Hurkacz, the eighth seed and this year's Estoril champion. Hurkacz defeated Daniel Altmaier in straight sets to advance.Meanwhile, Tommy Paul was unable to join Fritz in the next round, falling to Francisco Cerundolo in a three-set battle. Cerundolo, the 21st seed, notched his first Top 30 win of the year, edging out Paul 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-2.The Madrid Open continues with exciting matches, including a highly anticipated clash between former champion Alexander Zverev and left-hander Denis Shapovalov.

Danielle Collins' remarkable winning streak continues unabated as she notched her 15th consecutive victory at the Mutua Madrid Open. The American star overcame a spirited challenge from Jaqueline Cristian, prevailing 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a thrilling third-round encounter.Collins' triumph marks her second consecutive come-from-behind victory in Madrid. In her opening match, she rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Olga Danilovic in a marathon three-setter. Her resilience and determination have been key factors in her impressive run of form.The 28-year-old's winning streak began with back-to-back titles in Miami and Charleston, where she dominated on both hard and green clay surfaces. Her adaptability and versatility have made her a formidable opponent on any court.Collins' victory over Cristian was a testament to her mental fortitude and unwavering belief. After dropping the first set, she regrouped and seized control of the match with her aggressive baseline play and powerful serve. Her ability to dictate the tempo and force errors from her opponent proved decisive.The American's success in Madrid is a continuation of her impressive season. She reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and has consistently performed at a high level throughout the year. Her current winning streak has propelled her to the top of the WTA rankings, where she is now ranked No. 8.Collins' next challenge will be a quarterfinal clash against either Ons Jabeur or Belinda Bencic. With her confidence soaring and her game in top form, she will be a formidable opponent for any player who stands in her way.

Mirra Andreeva, the rising Russian star, celebrated her 17th birthday in style by securing a spot in the last 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open. Her impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory over reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, the No. 7 seed, marked her second consecutive year reaching the fourth round in the Spanish capital.Andreeva's breakthrough came last year at the age of 15, when she stunned the tennis world with a run to the fourth round as a wild card. She defeated two Top 20 players before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. This year, she has continued her ascent, earning her second career Top 10 victory over Vondrousova.Against Vondrousova, Andreeva displayed her maturity and resilience. She raced out to early leads in both sets but faced a setback in the first set, losing four straight games to trail 5-4. However, she regained her composure and won nine of the last 10 games, showcasing her impressive serving performance in the second set.Andreeva's growth has been evident both on and off the court. She has been working with former Grand Slam champion Conchita Martinez as a coach on a trial basis, and the partnership has yielded positive results. Andreeva credits Martinez with helping her develop a more mature mindset."I feel more like a grown-up," Andreeva said. "I know that I will not be able to win a match without doing something myself."Andreeva's next challenge will be the winner of the match between No. 11 seed Caroline Garcia and No. 21 seed Jasmine Paolini. The Russian teenager is confident in her abilities and eager to continue her impressive run in Madrid.