The Madrid Open continued its women’s singles action yesterday, and it turned out to be a breakthrough moment for world No. 97 Bernarda Pera. Making her debut at the tournament this week, the American of Croatian descent delivered another jaw-dropping performance by upsetting British No. 1 Johanna Konta and earning her first-ever spot in the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event.
Pera’s incredible journey began in the qualifiers, where she advanced without dropping a single set. She made headlines in the opening round by defeating power-hitting Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, and she didn’t stop there. Her latest victory over Konta adds yet another milestone to her growing list of career firsts. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, Pera entered as a lucky loser and stunned the tennis world by knocking out the ninth seed—Konta herself—to reach the round of 32.
Despite that early surge, Pera’s form dipped after the first quarter of the season. Following her impressive run to her first WTA Premier quarterfinal in Charleston, she suffered back-to-back losses. She was eliminated in the Stuttgart qualifiers and then fell in the first round of the Prague Open to world No. 220 Elena Ruse. But arriving in the Spanish capital seems to have reenergized her. On Tuesday, she delivered another standout performance, showcasing the skills that propelled her more than 200 places up the rankings in just one year. The match against Konta lasted 1 hour and 42 minutes and highlighted her relentless drive.
Pera recorded 26 winners and made 19 unforced errors. She broke Konta’s serve three times and impressively saved all five break points she faced. Her calm under pressure and tactical consistency left a strong impression on the Madrid crowd.
Tennis fans who also follow BD Cricket Match can surely relate to this kind of underdog story—where persistence pays off and form returns just in time for a major breakthrough. For Pera, this tournament may mark a turning point, proving that she’s not just a one-match wonder but a genuine contender among the sport’s rising stars. As with any unpredictable BD Cricket Match, the thrill lies in the unexpected, and Pera is serving up just that on the red clay of Madrid.