Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Saturday, 25 April 2026 23:39 / Updated on Saturday, 25 April 2026 23:39
The Romanian player Jaqueline Cristian (27 years old, ranked 33rd in the world) lost 1-6, 4-6 to the WTA leader, Aryna Sabalenka, in the 3rd round in Madrid, then declaring that she takes the positive side of this match and confidently goes to the next tournaments on clay, Rome, Rabat and Roland Garros.
Half an hour after ending the match with Aryna Sabalenka, Jaqueline Cristian offered his first thoughts on how he played against the world leader, but also on how he appreciates the tournament in Madrid overall.
She repeated her previous best performance here, round 3, also achieved in 2024, and says she has positives to take forward after a more difficult start to the clay season. At the end he even joked, reproducing what he said to the Belarusian at the net: “That she can win now, that I usually lose to the winner of the tournament“.
– Jaqueline, how was the match for you? Two contrasting sets, but the second one is much better.
– For me, honestly, it was a positive match, from which I leave with my head held high, because although in the first set it was 6-1 for her and it was quite fast, I don't have much to complain about. He entered the match flawlessly and was effectively everywhere. I couldn't really see the field, he ran from one corner to another. I was a bit amazed too. But at the same time, you're playing the world number one and you know you have to expect that.
– Then things changed.
– I am happy with the level of play I had in the second set, because I competed well against them. I was, so to speak, equal to equal in many points. I had some very good chances, which unfortunately I couldn't take, because he served very well. And you know that happens in the big moments. You have to expect the best because that's why it's #1.
Jaqueline Cristian: “I managed to prove to myself once again that I can”
– For the whole tournament, what is the conclusion?
– But, overall, related to me, I am very satisfied with the tour I did. I managed to change a not-so-good dynamic and a not-so-great start to the slag season, but here, once again, I overcame my demons, so to speak, and I managed to prove to myself once again that I can and that it's a very mental thing, where I think I've made some steps forward in this tournament and, overall, I think I'm leaving in a better dynamic in Rome and for the next clay tournaments.
Jaqueline Cristian, duel with Aryna Sabalenka, at the Manolo Santana Stadium in Madrid Photo: Guliver/Getty Images
– Which will be…
– There will be Rome, Rabat and Roland Garros and it's honestly a step forward for me, including this match I had with her, she showed me once again some things that I need to keep working on and I'm going to do this thing, but a tournament, honestly, positive.
– What did you say to each other at the end there? You had a smiling dialogue.
– (laughs) I told her that now she can go win the tournament like she did in Indian Wells, that I usually lose to the winner of the tournament and she told me that I am a fighter and to keep fighting and being who I am.
