World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus secured her third Madrid Open title on Saturday, overpowering American star Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6(3) in a gripping final. The victory marked Sabalenka’s 20th career title and tied her with Petra Kvitova for the most Madrid Open trophies.
Sabalenka dominated the first set with explosive baseline play, winning 17 consecutive points early to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, regrouped in the second set, using tactical shot placement to push the match to a tiebreaker. However, Sabalenka’s resilience under pressure sealed the win.
"It was a really tough match," Sabalenka said post-victory. "At the end of the second set, it was really intense, and I was very emotional. I am happy I was able to handle my emotions."
The 26-year-old now leads the WTA Tour with 31 match wins this season and three titles, including Brisbane and Miami. Gauff, who could have ascended to World No. 2 with a victory, saw her finals record slip to nine wins from 11 appearances.
Sabalenka’s triumph underscores her status as a dominant force on clay, while the rivalry between the two athletes stands even at five wins apiece, promising compelling clashes ahead.
