Sabalenka Seeks Third Madrid Open Title, Eyes Strong Clay Season

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is optimistic about her chances on clay this season, believing she can perform well if she matches the level she showed in last year's Madrid Open final against Iga Swiatek, a high-quality match she narrowly lost after holding three match points. Sabalenka is aiming for her third Madrid Open title, which would make her only the second player to achieve this feat in the tournament's history. Despite recent runner-up finishes in Stuttgart and Indian Wells, she demonstrated resilience by winning in Miami and remains motivated to bounce back from losses. The Madrid Open is also notable this year for introducing live electronic line calling on clay, a change that has received mixed reactions from players; Sabalenka supports the technology, preferring it over human referees. She will begin her campaign against Anna Blinkova, seeking her first clay title since her Madrid triumph in 2023. Sabalenka reflects positively on her previous close matches, viewing them as motivation to work harder for future victories.