Aryna Sabalenka Wins Madrid Open, Defeating Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious against Coco Gauff, securing her third title of the season at the Madrid Open. The world’s top player started strong, clinching 17 points early but faced challenges in the second set, needing to fend off set points. Ultimately, she triumphed with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3) at Kajamagica.

This win marks Sabalenka’s third title in Madrid. Notably, she had lost to Iga Swiatek a year prior but won the trophy in both 2021 and 2023. Currently, she holds a significant lead of over 4,000 points in the rankings, yet Swiatek continues to remain in second place, ahead of Gauff.

Adding the Madrid win to her previous titles in Miami and Brisbane, Sabalenka has been remarkably consistent, reaching the finals in six out of the eight tournaments she has entered this season.

Gauff, attempting to bounce back from a tough period, struggled as Sabalenka took an early 4-1 lead, showcasing an aggressive play that captured 17 consecutive points. Although Gauff regained some composure, she couldn’t save the first set and only managed to go up 2-1 in the second after winning a service game.

When Gauff served at 5-6, she valiantly saved match points with a strong second serve. However, Sabalenka shifted focus and secured the win during a tiebreak, taking advantage of Gauff’s double fault on her second match point.

“I’m thrilled to have managed my emotions at the end of that second set,” Sabalenka shared with the tennis channel post-match. “It was really intense—a genuine fight out there. I’m glad we closed this match in two sets.”

Gauff acknowledged her opponent, stating, “Congratulations to Aryna on an incredible tournament. You’re always a tough competitor, and hats off to your team.”