Aryna Sabalenka has become the second WTA player in history to win a third Madrid Open title after ousting Coco Gauff in a roller-coaster two-set encounter.
The world No.1 battled her way to a 6-3, 7-6(3), win over Gauff, who had beaten her in their previous meeting at the WTA Finals last November. Sabalenka is now 6-0 against top 10 players this season and has 31 wins to her name which is more than anybody else on the Women’s Tour.
Against Gauff, Sabalenka produced 21 winners and capitalized on her rival’s unforced error count of 33. She also won 63% of her first service points.
“It wasn’t an easy match,” Sabalenka said afterward during an interview with Sky Sports Tennis.
“I’m super happy that I was able to get this trophy. Before the match, I saw they had a new trophy and I was like, ‘I need this one.’
“I’m super happy standing here today, being a champion of Madrid.”
Despite winning in straight sets, the Belarussian encountered a bumpy ride. During the opening set, she won 17 points in a row to storm ahead 4-1 before getting broken by Gauff. However, she got back on track by winning three games in a row to seal the opener in less than 40 minutes.
The second frame was a tougher task for Sabalenka, who found herself down 3-5 before having to fend off a set point in the following game. Gauff had a golden opportunity to force proceedings into a decider but the American’s inconsistency and serving problems cost her.
Eventually, Sabalenka leveled at 5-5 before having her first championship point at 6-5 which she failed to convert. However, she prevailed in the tiebreaker by winning four points in a row. The final ended with Gauff hitting a double fault, her eighth of the match.
“Overall the match was going really well until that early break in the second set,” Sabalenka reflected.
“I was trying to come back in the match. I found my rhythm on the serve and then I was just trying to put as much pressure as I could on her serve.
“I’m really glad that in that tricky game at four-five, I was able to break back. That was a really intense end to the match.
“The key was focusing on myself and I was playing point by point without overthinking stuff.”
Watching from the stands was Sabalenka’s team who were all confusingly waving fly swatters at their player. She explained that it was a joke about a hand movement she was making during her match against Elise Mertens earlier in the tournament.
“I think that’s the key,” Sabalenka said about her team’s sense of humor. “Outside of the court, they get easier and kind of like being a bit more chill.”
As for her celebration, Sabalenka intends to make the most of her Saturday evening in Madrid before she flies to Rome for the Italian Masters. She will also turn 27 on Monday.
“We’re definitely going out and we’re definitely going to have some drinks,” she stated.
“I’m gonna go for a tequila because one drink it’s nothing and it’s kind of like my birthday on Monday.”
Sabalenka is the first woman to win both Miami and Madrid within the same year since Serena Williams in 2013. She joins Simona Halep as the only woman to have won Madrid on three separate occasions.
