Sabalenka will face either former doubles partner Elise Mertens or Colombia’s Camila Osorio. Read more at straitstimes.com.

9/9 - Aryna Sabalenka is the ninth player to feature at the Madrid Open as World No. 1 - they all won at their tournament's ...

Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a third Madrid Open title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Anna Blinkova in second-round ...

Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a third Madrid Open title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Anna Blinkova in second-round ...

Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka have scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open ...

Aryna Sabalenka has won her first match since losing the Stuttgart final as the Belarusian overcame qualifier world No. 76 ...

Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka scored comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Madrid Open on ...

Zverev cruised past home favorite Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, while Sabalenka triumphed over qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-4.

The Belarusian will next face either Belgium’s world number 26 Elise Mertens or Colombia’s world number 51 Camila Osorio.

If Swiatek wins the WTA 1000 event, she’s safe at No. 2—but if she loses at any point, Pegula and Gauff could strike.