Two-time Madrid Open champion Simona Halep and new world No.2 Paula Badosa will face each other in the event’s second round after winning their openers on Thursday.
In a match-up between two 30-year-olds, Simona Halep converted all five of her break points to beat Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-3 under the roof on a rainy morning. This is the Romanian’s 11th appearance at the Madrid Open and she has reached the final a tournament-record four times.