Madrid Open: Sakkari reaches last 16

Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 5 seed, defeated American Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-3 in 63 minutes to advance to the last 16 of the Madrid Open at the Caja Magica on Saturday.

“I’ve been feeling better on the clay this year,” she said afterwards. “I’m feeling good. Let’s see how it goes.”

Sakkari, ranked No 6, will play the winner of the match between Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 11 seed, and American Emma Navarro, the No 19 seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the Greek won against Croat Donna Vekic (6-3, 6-2).

Stephens, ranked No 33, edged out Italian Martina Trevisan (6-3, 5-7, 6-4) and won against Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 28 seed (3-6, 6-3, 6-1) in the previous rounds of the Madrid tournament.

Madrid WTA 1000, other third-round results (Caja Magica, clay, USD 8.770.480, most recent results first):

• Robin Montgomery vs. Aryna Sabalenka
• Danielle Collins vs. Jaqueline Cristian
• Caroline Garcia vs. Jasmine Paolini
• Marketa Vondrousova vs. Mirra Andreeva
• Mayar Sherif vs. Elena Rybakina
• Ashlyn Krueger vs. Sara Bejlek
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Daria Kasatkina
• Yulia Putintseva vs. Caroline Dolehide
• Coco Gauff vs. Dayana Yastremska
• Madison Keys vs. Liudmila Samsonova
• Leylah Fernandez vs. Ons Jabeur
• Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Emma Navarro
• Jelena Ostapenko vs. Maria Lourdes Carle
• Sara Sorribes Tormo beat Victoria Azarenka (23): 7-6, 6-3
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Sorana Cirstea (27): 6-1, 6-1