Madrid Open LIVE: Rybakina stunned by Potapova after Zverev and Mensik cruise through

[p][b]00:00 CET - [/b]The final match of the day in Madrid has seen a shock result as in-form and confident world number two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] has been dumped out in straight sets against Austria's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/potapova-anastasia/x81l09qG/"]Anastasia Potapova[/a].[/p][p]Who saw that coming?[/p][embed guid="88f2cc31-d7ff-4d52-a5c4-f5b06672b94d" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048888462456058328" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]23:10 CET - [/b]It has been an underwhelming 2026 so far for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] after his exciting breakthrough year in 2025, but the Czech star has responded in Madrid by reminding everyone of his quality. [/p][p]Mensik faced a challenging opponent in 13th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/khachanov-karen/4bNPtZT5/"]Karen Khachanov[/a] and was made to work for the win in a nail-biting second-set tiebreak. However, Mensik came out on top to claim a straight-sets [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/khachanov-k-4bNPtZT5/mensik-j-UFj257G8/?mid=CnNg3dzf"]6-4, 7-6 (13-11)[/a] victory to progress.[/p][p]A big win for Mensik who has a chance in Madrid to get his clay court season up and running. However, the Czech player faces an even tougher challenge in the fourth round when he meets Alexander Zverev.[/p][embed guid="2edec2d4-fc7a-4d67-8976-13e554617319" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2048872881405276428" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]22:00 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] was not at his best, but the German world number three still made light work of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atmane-terence/6mkEQ279/"]Terence Atmane[/a] in Madrid. Zverev was in fine form in the first set en route to taking it 6-3, but the second set was much less dominant, and the second seed was forced to take the set in a tiebreak. [/p][p]The German will have to up his game if he is to win the title in Madrid and bounce back from an underwhelming exit to Cobolli in Munich earlier in April.[/p][embed guid="75e6cf18-cd96-4828-b931-18d599cf6872" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2048854682995474499" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]21:48 CET - [/b]Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a] has set up a fascinating clash against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] after cruising past Croatian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vallejo-daniel/U5RiWEZu/"]Adolfo Vallejo[/a] in just over an hour. Cobolli has made a positive start to his bid for another successful tournament after his impressive run to the final in Munich earlier this month. [/p][embed guid="f819bc7a-22f8-42fb-88be-fb6f434483f5" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2048846599024005253" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]21:00 CET - [/b]26th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a] has booked her place in the last 16 in Madrid after making remarkably short work of American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcnally-caty/YDHquro6/"]Caty McNally[/a].[/p][p]But perhaps it is no surprise, as Kostyuk is a player high in confidence after claiming a WTA title in Rouen last week and an impressive win against world number five [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Jessica Pegula[/a] in the previous round.[/p][embed guid="95053e71-9830-44ff-974d-2b547454ad1c" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048837085763612885" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]19:56 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blockx-alexander/xll0TzGG/"]Alexander Blockx[/a] is enjoying a really good 2026, and the 21-year-old has continued that with a mighty impressive [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/blockx-a-xll0TzGG/?mid=OtoOsbRa"]7-6(3), 6-3[/a] win over third seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a] in Madrid.[/p][p]It is the biggest victory of his career, beating a top-five player for the first time. Prior to this year, he had never been past the second round at a Masters event, but now he has reached the last 16 at back-to-back 1000 tournaments![/p][p]Auger-Aliassime will be really disappointed with his performance, though, with his forehand letting him down in really key moments. He made 27 unforced errors to Blockx's 12.[/p][embed guid="bde7a98a-2e81-4cfb-8bfb-63f976f78014" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2048824886739505435" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]18:15 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noskova-linda/zHMiAkw6/"]Linda Noskova[/a] has outlasted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a], coming back from 1-4 down in the final set to down the American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/gauff-c-f5BXmEH6/noskova-l-zHMiAkw6/?mid=xxueEJGi"]6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5)[/a].[/p][p]It is not often players beat Gauff in physical tussles, but Noskova did just that. Both players were inconsistent on serve, with Gauff hitting 13 aces and six double faults, while Noskova hit eight aces and seven double faults.[/p][p]It is a fantastic win for Noskova, and she will now face the winner of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a] vs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcnally-caty/YDHquro6/"]Caty McNally[/a].[/p][embed guid="416db047-51d2-4668-800b-4debf34a671b" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048798595491484076" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]18:02 CET - [/b]After throwing away a 5-1 lead in the final set, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a] managed to somehow recalibrate herself, winning a near three-hour slugfest against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bondar-anna/O8s9yjMD/"]Anna Bondar[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/bondar-a-O8s9yjMD/?mid=jHEmUPvA"]6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5)[/a]. [/p][p]The Russian was visibly emotional after the match, and the match's yo-yo nature clearly took a lot out of her. She served 12 double faults in total, but in the end, she did enough.[/p][p]She will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-leylah-annie/8EI3pJOd/"]Leylah Fernandez[/a] in the quarter-finals. [/p][embed guid="16e27aa8-0c47-4c25-ad92-383637e8d8da" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048796807849775510" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]16:52 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] had very few issues against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/budkov-kjaer-nicolai/Gj3CGbX5/"]Nicolai Budkov Kjaer[/a], seeing off the Norwegian qualifier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/budkov-kjaer-n-Gj3CGbX5/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/?mid=440tFCoJ"]6-3, 6-2[/a] to seal his spot in the last 16.[/p][p]It has been a good year for Medvedev so far, racking up 21 victories in 2026. He has also won 12 of his last 15 matches.[/p][p]He faces a potential clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a] next - if the Italian can get past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vallejo-daniel/U5RiWEZu/"]Adolfo Daniel Vallejo[/a].[/p][embed guid="6c600acb-6afb-43a1-97d8-190e4a48b565" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2048776984113627409" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]16:28 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]Francisco Cerundolo[/a] is the next man through to the fourth round in Madrid, showcasing his clay-court prowess with a ruthless [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cerundolo-f-lWQ3G6gB/darderi-l-jeXTxMIp/?mid=jcOg8rIj"]6-2, 6-3[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/darderi-luciano/jeXTxMIp/"]Luciano Darderi[/a].[/p][p]The Argentine completely overpowered the Italian, hitting eight aces and a whopping 31 winners in an hour and a quarter.[/p][embed guid="ec670022-4a4e-406a-8004-735c54e28619" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2048773037642731834" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]15:33 CET - [/b]World number one and defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] has survived a real test from four-time major winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a], fighting from a set down to win [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/osaka-n-MDM4BKiA/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=0rlSKBhL"]6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2[/a].[/p][p]Typically, Osaka struggles on clay, but the 14th seed produced a really high level from the off, and even led a set and a break. However, Sabalenka showed all the fighting qualities she possesses to take control, raising her game in the final set.[/p][p]Sabalenka is looking to become the first woman to win Madrid four times, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baptiste-hailey/Cjagsdf4/"]Hailey Baptiste[/a] - who she defeated in Miami at the same stage - will be her quarter-final opponent.[/p][embed guid="524cf96f-4206-4834-8476-d4c5337f1805" url="https://x.com/MutuaMadridOpen/status/2048758705261301816" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]15:20 CET - [/b]After battling to victory in the first round in a three-set slog, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Stefanos Tsitsipas[/a] has upped his game in his last two matches to book his place in the fourth round in Madrid. Tsitsipas was in no mood to mess around this afternoon as he dispatched home player [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniel-merida-aguilar/WOtXbAu5/"]Daniel Aguilar[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/daniel-m-a-WOtXbAu5/tsitsipas-s-hb6oWfc6/?mid=AeW7XlxR"]6-4, 6-2[/a] in just over an hour. [/p][p]It is just a start, but Tsitsipas will be encouraged by his upturn in form in Madrid as he looks to get his career back on track in 2026. [/p][embed guid="cd9cf7d9-984a-4228-9c8b-14b7fe532feb" url="https://x.com/atptour/status/2048753890183503963" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]14:38 CET -[/b] Is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pliskova-karolina/xGn9KNfO/"]Karolina Pliskova[/a] returning to the form that saw her reach world number one back in 2017? The 34-year-old from the Czech Republic has seen off Argentina's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sierra-solana/E5xrmfn5/"]Solana Sierra[/a] in straight sets, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pliskova-ka-xGn9KNfO/sierra-s-E5xrmfn5/?mid=Yej55bi3"]6-4, 6-3[/a], to book a spot in the last eight, only her second trip to a WTA quarter-final since 2024.[/p][p]She will face second seed, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a], or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/potapova-anastasia/x81l09qG/"]Anastasia Potapova[/a] in that match.[/p][embed guid="784ecf12-83f2-48f4-bdeb-3c7e93c018a8" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048743918737486160" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]13:52 CET - [/b]After two hours and 44 minutes of rollercoaster tennis, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baptiste-hailey/Cjagsdf4/"]Hailey Baptiste[/a] eventually got over the line against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bencic-belinda/ObGlDvu0/"]Belinda Bencic[/a], taking her seventh match point to win [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/baptiste-h-Cjagsdf4/bencic-b-ObGlDvu0/?mid=hWPeZ6Di"]6-1, 6-7(14), 6-3[/a].[/p][p]Baptiste was the better player for most of the first two sets, but after failing to serve it out and squandering a match point at 6-5 up, the pair engaged in a remarkable 30-point tiebreak, with Baptiste missing five more match-point opportunities.[/p][p]In the end, the American came out on top in the third set, and she is now into her second-straight WTA 1000 quarter-final after her run in Miami. It has been a good 2026 for her.[/p][embed guid="fdf7b7d5-a5c6-4b52-a938-fd066644bdf2" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2048732588764811338" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]12:37 CET - [/b]Defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] has eased into the fourth round in the Spanish capital with a thumping [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/davidovich-fokina-a-0zQXLfz4/ruud-c-zN9UpRqp/?mid=tU1kCiJO"]6-3, 6-1[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davidovich-fokina-alejandro/0zQXLfz4/"]Alejandro Davidovich Fokina[/a], who was well out of sorts on home turf. The Spaniard made 26 unforced errors, losing in an hour and 15 minutes.[/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-leylah-annie/8EI3pJOd/"]Leylah Fernandez[/a] booked her spot in the quarter-finals, beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/li-ann/rwvAgOWm/"]Ann Li[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fernandez-l-a-8EI3pJOd/li-a-rwvAgOWm/?mid=YgT3fyB5"]6-3, 6-2[/a]. The Canadian was in superb serving form, hitting six aces with a first-serve percentage of 74%.[/p][p]She awaits the winner of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a] vs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bondar-anna/O8s9yjMD/"]Anna Bondar[/a].[/p][embed guid="8448b22b-4c1b-4fa4-819b-fc5cc570ccb7" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2048713328663400466" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]10:50 CET - [/b]Play is set to get underway in 10 minutes, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bencic-belinda/ObGlDvu0/"]Belinda Bencic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-leylah-annie/8EI3pJOd/"]Leylah Fernandez[/a] first up. [/p][p]You can follow the men's action [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/madrid/"]here[/a], and the women's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/madrid/"]here[/a]![/p][p][b]09:00 CET[/b] - Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the Madrid Open! The fourth round gets underway today on the women's side of the draw, while the last men's third-round matches will be completed.[/p][p]Up first on the Manolo Santana Stadium at 11:00 CET, defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] has a tricky test against Spaniard [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davidovich-fokina-alejandro/0zQXLfz4/"]Alejandro Davidovich Fokina[/a].[/p][p]That is followed by a heavyweight match-up that sees world number one, four-time Grand Slam champion and three-time Madrid winner, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a], clash with another four-time major victor, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osaka-naomi/MDM4BKiA/"]Naomi Osaka[/a].[/p][embed guid="b540975d-ce29-4462-802b-1de9a0396e31" url="https://x.com/MutuaMadridOpen/status/2048630953682043128" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a], who was ill on court in her victory against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cirstea-sorana/fBPsm3Iq/"]Sorana Cirstea[/a] yesterday, then meets [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noskova-linda/zHMiAkw6/"]Linda Noskova[/a]. [/p][p]Second seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a] begins the evening session against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atmane-terence/6mkEQ279/"]Terence Atmane[/a], before world number two and Australian Open champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] closes out the day against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/potapova-anastasia/x81l09qG/"]Anastasia Potapova[/a].[/p][p]There is plenty of action on the other courts, too, with the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bencic-belinda/ObGlDvu0/"]Belinda Bencic[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Mirra Andreeva[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a] looking to book their spots in the next round.[/p]