Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka have just added yet another thrilling clash to their sparkling rivalry, with the world number one coming out on top in Madrid.
She was good value for the win, but had to dig so deep to ensure her phenomenal record in the Spanish capital did not take a hit.
Having lost the first set and fallen behind an early break in the second, things did not look good for the Belarusian.
Alas, this supreme champion can never be discounted, and Aryna Sabalenka roared back to not only book her place in the Madrid Open quarter-finals but also reinforce just how much stronger the WTA Tour is than the ATP Tour right now.
Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka play out Madrid Open thriller
It’s a testament to the strength in depth of the WTA Tour that this clash commanded such acclaim, even before they had hit a ball.
After all, it pitted two of the sport’s biggest hitters against one another, and in the first set in particular, it did not disappoint.
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Credit: Sofascore
It felt like every other point was a winner, and it took a tiebreak to finally separate them.
When Naomi Osaka finally got her first break of serve, she was then broken straight back, with Sabalenka then grabbing a stranglehold of the match that did not relent.
This was a truly engaging encounter, and proved both why Sabalenka is the best in the world, and why Osaka should definitely not retire, still more than worth her spot at the apex of the sport.
Why the WTA Tour has more star power than the ATP Tour
The fact that a Round of 16 clash between the world number one and world number 15 drew so much attention is indicative of the strength in depth that women’s tennis boasts right now.
And, whilst there are undeniably some stars on the men’s tour as well, the number and depth of quality pale in comparison.
Aside from Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and of course Novak Djokovic, there are no true standouts, with Joao Fonseca perhaps leading a new wave of interest from South America.
Does anybody else even come close to Alex Eala’s popularity right now?
Meanwhile, women’s tennis has its elite-level stars too, with Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, but then has arguably two of the most marketable sportswomen in the world in Coco Gauff and Alexandra Eala.
The latter is part of a new generation of young superstars, with Mirra Andreeva, Iva Jovic, Victoria Mboko and Zeynep Sönmez all bringing new, fresh eyes to the sport in every round of events.
Women’s tennis has arguably never been so strong, and it ironically comes when the ATP Tour has entered a relative period of weakness.
