MINSK, 3 May (BelTA) - World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus came back from a set down to keep her title defense alive at the Mutua Madrid Open, defeating No.4 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), in the semifinal on Thursday, BelTA has learned.
In the final the Belarusian will face Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek who cruised past world number 20 Madison Keys of the United States, 6-1, 6-3, in the semifinal. Last year Aryna Sabalenka defeated Iga Swiatek to secure the title.
On her way to the final Aryna Sabalenka moved past Poland’s world number 48 Magda Linette, world number 183 Robin Montgomery and world number 15 Danielle Collins of the United States and Russia’s world number 43 Mirra Andreeva.
In the men’s semifinals world number 13 Taylor Fritz will face Russia’s World No.8 Andrey Rublev, while Canada’s world number 35 Felix Auger Aliassime will take on world number 31 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic.
The Madrid Open tournament will be over on 5 May.