Aryna Sabalenka secured her third Madrid Open title on Saturday with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Coco Gauff, solidifying her position as the world No. 1. This marked her third WTA title of the year.
Sabalenka matched Petra Kvitova’s record by winning her third Madrid Open title, with previous victories in 2023 and 2021. She also leveled her head-to-head record with Gauff at five wins each in their 10 meetings.
“I always enjoy competing against you, you’re a true fighter,” Sabalenka told Gauff. “I’m thrilled to have come out on top this year.”
With this win, Sabalenka extended her streak to six consecutive victories against top-10 opponents this year, all without dropping a set.
The Belarusian showcased her dominance by winning four games in a row without dropping a point to take a 4-1 lead in the first set. Despite Gauff’s efforts to narrow the gap to 4-2, Sabalenka secured the set with another break.
In the second set, Gauff took a 2-1 lead and later a 5-3 advantage, but double faults in her service games allowed Sabalenka to claw back. Sabalenka eventually leveled the score at 5-5 before clinching the title in a tiebreak.
Despite the loss, Gauff graciously praised her opponent, saying, “Incredible tournament, you’re always a tough competitor. Congratulations on your success. Hopefully, I’ll be back in this position next year.”
In terms of serving statistics, Sabalenka landed 69% of her serves and won points on 68% and 75% of her first and second serves, respectively. Gauff, on the other hand, landed 55% of her serves and won points on 57% and 53% of her first and second serves. Sabalenka recorded two aces and two double faults compared to Gauff’s two aces and eight double faults.
Both players will now shift their focus to the Italian Open in Rome before heading to Roland Garros for the second Grand Slam of the season.