Aryna Sabalenka and Alexandra Eala link up with same practice partner before Madrid Open

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.

Alexandra Eala and Aryna Sabalenka begin their Madrid Open build-up

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.

Aryna Sabalenka and Alexandra Eala learn their fate in Madrid

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.

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.

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