Peyton Stearns, the American tennis player, concluded her run at the Mutua Madrid Open with a loss in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. She faced top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Stearns in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The match marked the second meeting between the two players.
Stearns reached the fourth round by defeating qualifier Rebeka Masarova in dominant fashion. Stearns needed just over an hour to secure the win against Masarova.
Rebeka Masarova fails against Peyton Stearns
Her victory over Masarova followed an upset win over Doha champion Amanda Anisimova in an earlier round, showing improved form in Madrid after a challenging start to the season.
The contest against Sabalenka brought back memories of their previous encounter at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. In that match, Stearns held multiple match points before Sabalenka eventually prevailed.
This time in Madrid, Sabalenka controlled the match from the outset. Tennis.com provided a preview and betting odds ahead of the match.
WTATennis.com featured a video highlighting Stearns' path to the Round of 16 and setting the stage for her match against the world No. 1.
Sabalenka, a two-time champion in Madrid, continues her title defense in the tournament.
