Women’s qualifying came to an end on Wednesday on a day packed with excitement in the Caja Mágica. Some of the biggest names in the qualies stamped their ticket to the main draw and promise to provide a tough challenge for those that await them in the Mutua Madrid Open.

First seed Ekaterina Alexandrova stamped her authority on the Spanish clay. The world No. 45 cruised past French player Clara Burel 6-1, 6-1 in one of the day’s most convincing performances.

Another player to qualify was former member of the Top 15 Kaia Kanepi, whose big hitting commands plenty of respect at the altitude of Madrid. The Estonian came through a demanding match against Italian player Martina Trevisan, beating her 6-2, 7-5 in the Manolo Santana Stadium.

Petra Martic, one of the most respected players on clay, provided a stark demonstration of her experience. The Croat won her clash 6-4, 6-1 against Italian player Lucia Bronzetti to earn herself a place in the main draw.

A well-known face in the Caja Mágica was back in search of another success story. The Romanian Irina Camelia Begu, a two-time quarter-finalist at the event, beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 to win another opportunity to shine in the Spanish capital.

Andrea Petkovic dazzled the spectators with a hard-earned victory. The German beat Slovenian player Kaja Juvan, one of the tour’s most promising talents, 7-6(4), 6-4. The one-time French Open semi-finalist’s prowess will command much respect in Madrid.

On a day replete with thrilling clashes, others to reach the main draw were the Hungarian Anna Bondar (6-4, 6-2 vs. Grace Minnen), Czech player Marie Bouzkova (7-5, 6-4 vs. Danka Kovinic), the Slovenian Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova (6-2, 1-6, 7-6 vs. Magda Linette), Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska (6-2, 7-6 vs. Harmony Tan), Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin (3-6, 7-6, 6-2 vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia), Varvara Gracheva (6-3, 6-2 vs. Heather Watson) and Anastasia Potapova (6-2, 6-0 vs. Kristina Mladenovic).