Sabalenka beats spirited Gauff to win Madrid Open

Aryna Sabalenka won the Madrid Open for the third time in a thrilling 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka, the world’s number one, won the opening set, but Gauff forced a tie-break in the second, which wasted a championship point.

Although Gauff came back from 3-0 to make it 3-3, Sabalenka, 26, recovered, and a double fault gave them the victory.

Both women made it to the semi-finals confidently, with Gauff coming off of Iga Swiatek’s stunning semi-final victory and Sabalenka as the best overall.

Sabalenka started well, winning 17 games in a row, but Gauff’s brave recovery gave her a 5-3 lead in the second set.

After making it 5-5, the American, who is now 21 years old, saved six break points to thwart Sabalenka’s comeback.

She finished second behind Swiatek in 2024 and won her previous matches in Madrid in 2021 and 2023. She leads Petra Kvitova, a Czech player, with 11 wins and 18 losses.

“Coconuts, congratulations. I’m so happy to see you back playing the tennis you love,” Sabalenka said.

“I love playing against you because you are such a fighter.”

We have gone through a lot together, so thank you to my team.

I believe it will be your fourth straight finals, Gauff told Sabalenka. “Congrats on your success,” Gauff said.