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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, just awarded “Sportswoman of the Year” from the Laureus organization, kicks off her clay-court season on Thursday.
So does Naomi Osaka, who has hardly played at all in 2026 and went out in her Miami opener a month ago to qualifier Talia Gibson. Osaka has played United Cup, the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami this season. That’s it.
Also – Leylah Fernandez looks to build upon the encouraging tennis she showed in Stuttgart against an Austrian qualifier.
(Madrid is six hours ahead of EDT)
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Mutua Madrid Open
Location: Madrid, Spain
Category: WTA 1000 (Joint event with the ATP Tour)
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Dates: April 21 – May 3, 2026
Prize Money: $8,235,540
Draws: S96 – D32
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Order of play
Singles, first round
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Manolo Santana Stadium (11 a.m. start – 5 a.m. EDT)
2. [4] Iga Swiatek (POL) vs. [Q] Daria Snigur (UKR) (not before 1 p.m.)
3. [1] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs. Peyton Stearns (USA)
5. [9] Mirra Andreeva (RUS) vs. [LL] Panna Udvardy (HUN) (not before 7 p.m.)
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Arantxa Sanchez Stadium
1. [7] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs. Anna Bondar (HUN)
4. [14] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. Camila Osorio (COL) (not before 5 p.m.)
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Stadium 3
1. [11] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. Petra Marcinko (CRO)
2. [18] Diana Shnaider (RUS) vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (EPS)
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Court 4
3. [8] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs. Laura Siegemund (GER)
4. [15] Iva Jovic (USA) vs. Magda Linette (POL)
5. [30] Hailey Baptiste (USA) vs. [WC] Kaitlin Quevedo (ESP)
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Court 5
1. [29] Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) vs. [LL] Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR)
2. [22] Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) vs. [Q] Dalma Galfi (HUN) (not before 1 p.m.)
3. [31] Ann Li (USA) vs. [Q] Alycia Parks (USA)
4. [24] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) vs. Julia Grabher (AUT)
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Court 7
2. [28] Wang Xinyu (CHN) vs. [WC] Laura Samson (CZE)
3. [23] Marie Bouzkova (CZE) vs. [Q] Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
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