Day 6 of the 2025 Madrid Open sees the Round of 16 kick off at the Caja Mágica, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek leading a star-studded lineup. They’ll be joined by Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, and other top talents as they battle for places in the quarterfinals of the first WTA 1000 clay-court event of the season.
So far, the tournament has largely gone according to plan for the top seeds — but in tennis, fortunes can change quickly. Here’s a look at Monday’s key matchups:
Iga Swiatek Faces Dangerous Challenger in Diana Shnaider
World No. 2 and defending champion Iga Swiatek looks to continue her strong title defense after a comfortable win over Linda Noskova in the previous round. However, the stakes are high — should she fail to defend her title, Swiatek risks losing her No. 2 ranking, depending on Coco Gauff’s performance.
Standing in her way is rising Russian star Diana Shnaider. The 20-year-old, who recently dismantled Anastasija Sevastova with a double 6-0 scoreline, comes into this clash brimming with confidence.
Match Info:
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Start Time: 1:00 PM local / 7:00 PM your time
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Court: Manolo Santana Stadium
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Round: Round of 16
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Notables:
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Swiatek: 23–7 in 2025, 22 career titles
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Shnaider: 10–9 in 2025, 4 career titles
Sabalenka Continues Her Title Hunt Against Peyton Stearns
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka remains in strong form despite lacking a major title this season. After a solid opening win over Anna Blinkova, the Belarusian hopes to maintain momentum.
Her opponent, American Peyton Stearns, has struggled for consistency in 2025 but impressed with a win over Amanda Anisimova. Facing Sabalenka will be her toughest test yet.
Match Info:
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Start Time: 4:00 PM local / 10:00 PM your time
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Court: Manolo Santana Stadium
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Round: Round of 16
Head-to-Head: Sabalenka leads 1–0
(Last Meeting: Sabalenka won 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 at Indian Wells 2024)
Notables:
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Sabalenka: 25–5 in 2025, 19 career titles
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Stearns: 10–10 in 2025, 1 career title
Coco Gauff Battles Belinda Bencic in Blockbuster Clash
U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff aims to continue her strong clay-court season as she takes on experienced Swiss star Belinda Bencic. Gauff is seeking revenge after Bencic defeated her at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Match Info:
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Start Time: 11:00 AM local / 5:00 PM your time
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Court: Arantxa Sanchez Stadium
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Round: Round of 16
Head-to-Head: Tied 2–2
(Last Meeting: Bencic d. Gauff, Indian Wells 2025)
Notables:
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Gauff: 14–6 in 2025, 9 career titles
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Bencic: 18–6 in 2025, 9 career titles
Madison Keys Seeks Dominance Over Donna Vekic
After cruising past Lucia Bronzetti and Anna Kalinskaya without dropping a set, Madison Keys looks to extend her impressive run against Croatian Donna Vekic. Keys, the only Grand Slam champion so far in 2025, holds a 3–1 head-to-head edge over Vekic, including a hard-fought victory at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Match Info:
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Start Time: 1:30 PM local / 7:30 PM your time
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Court: Stadium 3
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Round: Round of 16
Head-to-Head: Keys leads 3–1
(Last Meeting: Keys d. Vekic, Indian Wells 2025)
Notables:
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Keys: 20–4 in 2025, 10 career titles
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Vekic: 7–8 in 2025, 4 career titles