MADRID—On Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked tennis player, secured her third Madrid Open title by defeating the fourth-ranked Coco Gauff in straight sets, cementing her 20th career title. The match saw Sabalenka dominate the initial set and narrowly clinch the second in a tiebreaker with a final scoreline of 6-3, 7-6 (3) on the iconic clay courts of the Caja Mágica.
This victory marks Sabalenka’s third triumph at the Madrid Open, equaling the record held by Petra Kvitova for the most titles at this tournament. In addition, Sabalenka has captured her third title of the year, previously claiming victories in Brisbane and Miami. This win also balanced her series with Gauff, as both players now boast five wins against each other.
A win would have propelled Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, to the world No. 2 spot. Despite her strong form throughout the week, only dropping one set before the final, Gauff’s tally in finals now stands at nine wins from eleven appearances.
Sabalenka’s aggressive play overwhelmed Gauff early in the match, dominating a sequence where she claimed 17 consecutive points, enabling her to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Gauff regained some momentum by diversifying her shots, which helped extend the match into a tiebreaker, but Sabalenka’s resilience dashed any hopes of a comeback.
Despite missing a chance to seal the victory on a championship point in the second set—a reminder of a similar situation in the previous year’s final against Iga Swiatek—Sabalenka quickly regrouped. Demonstrating her trademark determination, she clinched her 31st match win of the season, a tour-high accomplishment for 2025.
The match concluded when Gauff’s shot found the net, prompting Sabalenka to celebrate exuberantly. “It was a really tough match,” Sabalenka remarked, expressing relief and joy over her victory. “The intensity at the end of the second set was high, and managing my emotions was crucial.”
In the men’s final scheduled for Sunday, Casper Ruud is set to face off against Jack Draper, promising another exciting day of tennis at this prestigious event.