The route to the main draw is starting to take shape. The Mutua Madrid Open got underway in the Caja Mágica and the matches did not disappoint. Most of the favourites lived up to expectations and made it through to the next round, the final step before the main event.
Laura Siegemund, the second seed, beat Krystina Pliskova in two sets and will now take on the American Madison Brengle, who saw off Polona Hercog.
Elena Vesnina, the top seed, defeated the Spanish Silvia Soler Espinosa in the only match played on the Manolo Santana Centre Court. The Russian will now meet Belarussian player Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who upset Ana Konjuh (6-4, 6-3).
Among the biggest names on day one, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni stormed past Rocío de la Torre Sánchez (6-2, 6-0) and will now take part in an enticing match against Brit Heather Watson, who fought through two extremely tight tiebreaks against Czech player Lucie Hradecka (7-6 (9), 7-6 (4)).
In addition, young guns Maria Sakkari and Naomi Osaka delighted the crowds with their victories in the first round of the qualifying stages.
