Aryna Sabalenka sealed her third Madrid Open title after the world No 1 ended the hopes of Coco Gauff with a dramatic victory on Saturday.
In a thrilling encounter on La Caja Magica, top-ranked Sabalenka won 17 points in a row early in the contest but had to
save a set point in the second set. She eventually secured a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) success over the American to end her hopes of claiming her 10th title in 11 finals.
Sabalenka, who claimed the title in 2021 and 2023 and was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek in 2024, ties Petra Kvitova (2011, 2015, 2018) for the most Madrid titles won.
“I’m super happy. It wasn’t an easy match today and I’m so happy to get this trophy,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports Tennis. “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.
“The match was going really well until that early break in the second set and then I was just trying to come back into the match. I found my rhythm on the serve and then I was just trying put as much pressure on her serve as possible. 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.”
A dominant Sabalenka, who turns 27 on Monday, won four games straight without conceding a point to build a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although former US Open champion Gauff battled back with a break to make it 4-2, the Belarusian secured the set with another break.
The American regained her composure and broke serve to lead 2-1 in the second.
Gauff, who had won five of their previous nine meetings, served for the set at 5-4, but Sabalenka finally took her fifth chance to break back, saving a set point and seeing the funny side when she dropped her racket in the middle of 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.
Sabalenka adds the Madrid crown to titles in Miami and Brisbane, with her superb consistency seeing her reach the final in six of the eight tournaments she has played so far in 2025.
Tale of the Tape
Naomi Broady, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis: “Sabalenka leading in almost every single area as she was after the first set but Gauff overtook her in winners in the end. The bottom leg is where my eyes are drawn though. Break points won, just four from 13 for Sabalenka. I think that’s an area she can look to improve, specifically against Coco Gauff.”
Croft: Sabalenka deserved it
Annabel Croft, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis: “She really deserved it. It wasn’t a great start from Coco Gauff and I thought at one stage it was going to be a whitewash actually and then she suddenly released.
“There were some dramatic moments with set point and match point and then into a tie-break, but I have to say Sabalenka did play the better tennis.”
Colin Fleming added: “I’m gutted for Coco Gauff because I thought she was marginally the better player for a good chunk of the second set.
“When the pressure is on that is when your technique is really tested and unfortunately there were three double faults in that game at 5-4, then at 5-5 the forehand went. Then it unravelled from there.”
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