3d:I[29208,["/_next/static/chunks/1h78v25qrnji2.js","/_next/static/chunks/1yt446igj3lq7.js","/_next/static/chunks/2sibmcs9-r_ve.js","/_next/static/chunks/2819pr828u0eu.js","/_next/static/chunks/3ppdga6kguk23.js","/_next/static/chunks/3g9zruwz8zub0.js","/_next/static/chunks/2vokt6hd0g8h5.js","/_next/static/chunks/16y6s8wq7d-vp.js","/_next/static/chunks/0vxfoo63cb-8_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2lzn5wiv6t3cz.js","/_next/static/chunks/41u_8ogfbuc3t.js","/_next/static/chunks/0ccxbn-eug1_t.js"],"default"] 39:T5cb,

MADRID (AP) — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka faced tough resistance in her opening match at the Madrid Open before beating Magda Linette 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday.

The second-ranked Sabalenka struggled with her serve at times, but the two-time Australian Open winner struck her 10th ace on match point at the Caja Magica in Spain's capital.

Sabalenka got some help from the net to get a key break and go up 5-3 in the third set when Linette was unable to reach a shot by the Belarusian that clipped the top of the tape.

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek won her opening match on Thursday. Sabalenka beat Swiatek in last year's final in Madrid and also won here in 2021.

Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3, while American Ashlyn Krueger downed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-3.

Mirra Andreeva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Carolina Garcia, and Jasmine Paolini also advanced.

On the men's side, eighth-ranked Andrey Rublev snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 6-4. Rublev's last win came at Indian Wells in March.

Tommy Paul got past qualifier Lukas Klein 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 in his first clay-court match of the season after missing Monte Carlo due to injury.

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to open his title defense later on Friday against Alexander Shevchenko despite fitness concerns that had made him doubt he could play.

3a:T5cb,

Aleksandr Shevchenko

Aleksandr Shevchenko

No. 2-ranked Zverev out of United Cup mixed teams event with biceps injury

Madrid Open roundup: Sabalenka ekes out 3-setter, Rublev ends skid

Defending champion Sabalenka advances at Madrid Open with a 3-set win over Linette