Aryna Sabalenka battled for two hours to fend off a feisty Robin Montgomery under the lights of the Manolo Santana Stadium (6-1, 6-7[5], 6-4) and seal her ticket to the last sixteen of the Mutua Madrid Open.

“She played an unbelievable tennis, fighting for every point and giving all as a young player with nothing to lose. It was a great battle, I think I have played at a great level and I am happy to get through this tough match”, said about her opponent.

Sabalenka already endured a three-setter against Magda Linette in her opener and she had to dig deep again today, with 35 winners and 8 aces against the talented 19-year-old American.

“She is already a young player, but she will be in the top and I am looking to face her many more times”, added about Montgomery’s future.

The second seed in the women’s competition has now claimed her eighth straight win and fourteenth of the last fifteen matches she has played in the Caja Magica. Her love affair with the Spanish capital has endured since 2021 and this year she is bidding for her third title.

The result means the world No. 2 is now in the fourth round, where she will meet another American in Danielle Collins (3-6, 6-4, 6-1 over the Romanian Jacqueline Cristian). It could prove to be another tough challenge for Sabalenka against this year’s champion in Miami and Charleston, who has her own streak of 15 straight wins on the WTA Tour.

“I saw her game. She is playing really high level. She did a great job last two tournaments. It will be another great battle. I am looking for this challenge and hopefully I will bring my best tennis there”, concluded on her next match.