Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a third Madrid title must go through an in-form Coco Gauff in a blockbuster final.
The world number one has battled through challenging tests in order to make another Madrid final.
After last year’s heartbreak to Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka is bidding for revenge as she looks to continue her dominance.
But make no mistake about it Sabalenka is expecting a tough final, “We had a lot of great battles against each other, very tough ones, very close ones,” Sabalenka told the WTA website.
“I’ll just go out there and I’ll fight for every point — that’s the best preparation you can have against someone like Coco.”
This is Sabalenka’s fourth consecutive final having previously reached the finals in Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart.
A stat that Sabalenka found crazy, “I wasn’t even thinking about that, but it sounds crazy — that’s crazy that I’m playing on such a high level,” Sabalenka shockingly said to the WTA website.
Standing in Sabalenka’s way in the final is Coco Gauff who is in confident form having knocked out Belinda Bencic, Mirra Andreeva and Swiatek.
The American is hoping her insane form can continue as she bids for a first Mutua Madrid Open title.
Despite being happy at being in the tournament Gauff knows the challenge awaits her in the final, “I’m just happy to be in the final of this tournament. I’ve been coming here [five times] and I don’t think I’ve ever made it out of the fourth round,” Gauff exclaimed to the WTA website.
“They’re both tough opponents. Obviously Aryna is world No. 1, so it would be cool to play her in the final and give myself that challenge.”
Gauff leads the head-to-head 5-4 ahead of the final on Saturday evening.
