After ending Coco Gauff’s hopes with a stunning victory, Aryna Sabalenka wins her third Madrid Open title.
Top-ranked Sabalenka had to preserve a set point in the second set after winning 17 points in a row early in the match in an intriguing match on La Caja Magica. She ultimately defeated the American, Coco Gauff, 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to terminate her chances of winning her tenth title in eleven finals.
Aryna Sabalenka, the 2021 and 2023 champion, finished second to Iga Swiatek in 2024. She is tied for the most Madrid titles won with Petra Kvitova (2011, 2015, 2018).
In the past five years, Sabalenka has won the title three times. This season, she has yet to lose a set to a player ranked in the top 10.
Since Serena Williams in 2013, Sabalenka is the only female to win both Miami and Madrid in the same season.
“I’m super happy. It wasn’t an easy match today and I’m so happy to get this trophy. Before the match, I saw they had a new trophy and I was like, ‘I need this one, I want to win this trophy’, and I’m super happy”, Sabalenka told Sky Sports.
I’m just really glad I was able to break her back in that tricky game at 4-5 and it was a really intense end to the match”, she added.
Sabalenka took a 4-1 lead in the opening set after winning four straight games without giving up a point. The Belarusian won the set with another break, but Gauff, the former US Open winner, fought back with a break to make it 4-2.
After gathering herself, the American broke serve to take a 2-1 lead in the second set.
At 5-4, Gauff, who had prevailed in five of their previous nine encounters, served for the set, but Sabalenka eventually took her sixth opportunity to rally, saving a set point and finding amusement when she dropped her racket during one rally.
Gauff said:
“I’d like to congratulate Aryna on an incredible tournament. You’re always tough to face. Congrats to your team. You’re always doing well, but the last four straight finals, I think. Congrats on all the success you’ve been having.”
The Belarusian now has a lead of more than 4,000 points over her stuttering rival in the rankings, although the result does mean Iga Swiatek stays ahead of Gauff at No 2.
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