Sabalenka outplays Gauff to claim Madrid Open crown

MADRID, May 04 (Agencies): 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 Mágica 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.

Gauff could have risen to No. 2 with a victory. The 2023 US 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. Sabalenka 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.

When 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." It was the sixth final she has reached this year and the 37th of her career, the fourth in five years at Madrid.

"(Getting to six finals) sounds crazy, to be honest... I work hard and I know that if I bring my game and if I fight for every point that I'm capable of that," Sabalenka told reporters.

"But to actually like do it for real, I was like, okay, this is cool. This is ... like a dream.

"I really hope that I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and keep playing the way I'm playing right now."

Last year Sabalenka was beaten by Iga Swiatek in the showpiece, whom Gauff thrashed in the semi-final on Thursday.

The Pole is struggling for form, which gives Sabalenka little competition for the world number one spot and makes her a leading contender for the French Open, the site of Swiatek's last title almost a year ago.

"You know, like now probably Iga is not doing well, which is absolutely fine, and I know that she's going to come back," continued Sabalenka.

"I'm just working for the future, like trying to improve my game as much as I can, just so I'm ready for whoever is going to bring the challenge on court."

The three-time Grand Slam champion ripped through the first set after Gauff managed an initial hold.

Sabalenka won the next 17 points and racked up a 4-1 lead with breaks in the third and fifth games, as Gauff struggled to cope with her immense power.

The 21-year-old American, who won the US Open in 2023, managed a break of her own to slow

down the 2021 and 2023 Madrid champion.

Sabalenka broke again to wrap up the first set in 35 minutes with her second set point as Gauff sliced wide.