
Aryna Sabalenka and Alexandra Eala are preparing for the Madrid Open, starting April 21. Sabalenka aims for her fourth title, while Eala seeks a strong start to her clay court season.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
With the Madrid Open set to begin on 21 April, players from across the WTA Tour are already in the Spanish capital getting ready for the event.
Aryna Sabalenka heads into her first tournament since winning in Miami, and she’ll be aiming to add a fourth Madrid Open title to her resume.
Alexandra Eala, on the other hand, is looking for a strong start to her clay court season after underwhelming results in Linz and Stuttgart.
The two have been sharing a hitting partner during their preparation, getting ready for what should be an interesting week on clay.
Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
Eala and Sabalenka have both been hitting with Iva Jovic in the days leading up to the tournament.
The American hit with Eala on Sunday, 19th April, before training with Sabalenka a day later as they both gear up for one of the biggest events on clay. Jovic already has ties to both players this year.
Jovic teamed up with Eala at the ASB Classic earlier this season, where they reached the semi-finals in Auckland.
She also faced Sabalenka for the first time at this year’s Australian Open quarter-finals, where the world number one came through in straight sets.
The draw for the 2026 Madrid Open has been released, giving Eala and Sabalenka a clear look at their paths through the tournament.
Sabalenka, entering as a seeded player, will start her campaign in the second round, where she’ll face the winner between Peyton Stearns and Lois Boisson.
Aryna Sabalenka recently won a tournament in Miami before heading to the Madrid Open.
The Madrid Open 2023 is set to begin on April 21.
Alexandra Eala has had underwhelming results in her recent tournaments in Linz and Stuttgart.

Why are MAGA supporters blaming Mamdani for the Mets' losing streak?
Preview: Burnley vs Man City - Key Match Insights and Predictions
Eagles could change draft plans with early tackle run
Draisaitl returns to help Oilers win 4-3 against Ducks in playoffs!
Arizona Cardinals miss out on Ty Simpson as Jets pick him 16th overall
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
She’s also landed in a section that includes familiar names like Naomi Osaka, Marie Bouzková, and Jaqueline Cristian.
Eala’s first-round opponent will be determined through qualifying. If she advances, she’ll meet Elise Mertens in the second round.
The Filipino star is also grouped with Amanda Anisimova, Cristina Bucsa, and Ekaterina Alexandrova in her section of the draw.
Read more: