Audio By Carbonatix
World number one Aryna Sabalenka came from a set and a break down to beat Japan's Naomi Osaka in the fourth round of the Miami Open and progress to the quarter-finals.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka secured her 15th consecutive victory of the year - and ninth in a row in Madrid - by winning 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.
The 27-year-old had not lost a match in the Spanish capital since 2023, but she was tested early on by fellow four-time major winner Osaka, who was playing some of her strongest tennis of the season.
Also in the last 16 on Monday, American third seed Coco Gauff suffered a 4-6 6-1 6-7 (5-6) defeat by Czech Linda Noskova.
Gauff, who was lost to Sabalenka in the Madrid final last year, was 4-1 up in the final set and 4-2 ahead in the deciding tie-break before Noskova, seeded 13th, battled back twice to claim her spot in the last eight.
American Gauff, who has been unwell with a stomach virus, will drop from third to fourth when the updated world rankings are released, with Poland's Iga Swiatek replacing her.
The reigning French Open champion was ruthless in the second set after losing the first and looked a safe bet to advance to the next round at the expense of Noskova, after breaking the 21-year-old for a second time in the third set.
But world number 13 Noskova produced an impressive comeback in front of the Spanish crowd as Gauff faltered andwill face Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Kostyuk, 23, won 6-2 6-3 against American Caty McNally to celebrate her ninth victory in a row and back-to-back Madrid quarter-finals.
"Sometimes I get lost on court, especially in the second [set], as it happened today," said Noskova. "I had to find my rhythm all over again in the third [set]."
Meanwhile, Sabalenka will take on American Hailey Baptiste, who defeated Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-7 (14-16) 6-3 in her fourth-round match, on Tuesday.
She defeated Baptiste, 24, in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on her way to winning the title last month.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka said Osaka, who did not play for 14 months around the birth of daughter Shai in July 2023, "played incredible tennis", adding that the third set went by so fast because she felt she had "got lucky" with some of her shots.
"I'm happy [Osaka] brought that fight, I had to fight through to level up my game," said Sabalenka, who beat Osaka in the fourth round at Indian Wells in March.
Osaka, 28, dominated the first-set tie-break and then broke Sabalenka's serve at the start of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. But the Belarusian stepped up a gear immediately with a 40-0 break to level the set 2-2.
After breaking Osaka again to go 5-3 up, Sabalenka, who has also won titles at Indian Wells and in Brisbane this year, served out to secure the second set and take the contest to a decider.
She conceded just three points in total in the fnal set and then wrapped up the match with her sixth ace of the afternoon.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana High Commission advises Ghanaians in Pretoria to exercise caution ahead of planned demonstrations
53 minutes -
Big Push roads and AIA expansion will transform Ghana’s economy – Joyce Bawah Mogtari
59 minutes -
I took off my generator to feel what Ghanaians feel – Deputy Energy Minister on life without power
1 hour -
Stop waiting for government jobs – GUTA urges youth to embrace self-employment
2 hours -
Business climate improving as stability returns – GUTA Vice President
2 hours -
Post-IMF era could test Ghana’s economic gains – AGI Chief warns
2 hours -
2026 BECE: Methodist Bishop urges stakeholder support to stem malpractices
2 hours -
Binduri attack: Arrests rise to 21 as military intensifies manhunt
2 hours -
Atwima Nwabiagya South MCE moves to tighten accountability after audit infractions
2 hours -
Poultry farmers in Nkoranza appeal for more chicks, under Nkoko Nketenkete initiative
2 hours -
Court remands fugitive over alleged stealing, assault on elderly woman
2 hours -
Ketu North MP to award new classroom projects
2 hours -
ECG announces temporary power curtailment in Volta, Oti
3 hours -
‘We are coming after you’ – Bono Minister to cocoa smugglers
3 hours -
COCOBOD anti-smuggling unit arrests four suspects, impounds over 100 bags of beans
3 hours