Aryna Sabalenka fights past feisty Coco Gauff to claim third Madrid Open title
No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka beat No. 4 Coco Gauff in straight sets to win her record-tying third Madrid Open and 20th career title on Saturday.Sabalenka powered through the first set and edged the American in a tiebreaker for 6-3, 7-6 (3) on the Caja Mgica clay court.Sabalenka added to titles in Madrid in 2021 and 2023 and equaled Petra Kvitova's tournament record. It was also Sabalenka's tour-leading third title of the year after Brisbane and Miami. She also pulled level with Gauff on head-to-head with five wins apiece.advertisement
Gauff could have risen to No. 2 with a victory. The 2023 U.S. Open champion lost only one set this week until the final. Gauff's great record in finals slipped to nine wins in 11.Sabalenka battered Gauff with her drive early on, winning 17 consecutive points during one section for a 4-1 start. When Gauff found her weakness by spreading her shots around, the former champion dug in to force a second-set tiebreaker and crush any chance of a comeback.THREE-PEAT COMPLETE @SabalenkaA captures her THIRD Madrid title!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/m2CUuvNQDU— wta (@WTA) May 3, 2025Sabalenka missed a championship point on a break chance in the second set, recalling her failure to convert three championship points in a loss to Iga Swiatek in last year's final. After yelling at herself for her missed opportunity, the three-time Grand Slam winner shook off her demons, settled down and finished off her tour-high 31st win of 2025.advertisementWhen Gauff's final shot hit the net, Sabalenka thrust her arms into the air.'It was a really tough match,' Sabalenka said. '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.'In the men's final on Sunday, Casper Ruud plays Jack Draper.Trending Reel
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