Aryna Sabalenka is proving that resilience, power, and experience are the perfect recipe for clay-court dominance. On Saturday, she captured her third Mutua Madrid Open title, overcoming Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6(3) in a thrilling final that showcased her emotional maturity and elite shot-making under pressure. With this win, Sabalenka not only solidified her position at the top of the WTA rankings but also sent a strong message ahead of Roland Garros 2025—she’s more ready than ever.
Gauff, the rising American star, showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t shake the grip Sabalenka held over the match. After the defeat, even Gauff had to laugh as she told Sabalenka, “You’re always doing well.” And she’s right. Sabalenka’s season has been nothing short of dominant: six finals in eight tournaments, 31 match wins, and now two WTA 1000 titles, adding Madrid to her Miami triumph.
What made this Madrid title special wasn’t just the stats—it was how Sabalenka won. In past finals, pressure got the better of her. This year alone, she lost close title matches in Melbourne, Indian Wells, and Stuttgart. But in Madrid, when the tide turned and Gauff pushed back, Sabalenka didn’t panic. Instead, she fired clutch serves, aggressive returns, and smart baseline shots to shift the momentum back in her favor.
The match itself was a showcase of top-tier tennis. After missing a break point early, Sabalenka strung together 17 straight points to take full control of the first set. Gauff responded with intensity in the second, even holding a set point, but Sabalenka’s serve and mental toughness held strong. In the tiebreak, after briefly losing her edge, Sabalenka regrouped to slam the door shut—finishing with two booming serves and a composed final rally.
Sabalenka’s ability to remain composed, especially during key moments like break points and set points, reflects a key transformation in her game. “I’m super-happy I was able to handle my emotions at the end of the second set,” she told Tennis Channel. “It was intense, a real fight over there.”
Now, with Iga Swiatek suffering a shocking loss to Gauff in the semifinals, Sabalenka is poised as the top contender for the French Open. Her No. 1 ranking is secure, and her confidence is sky-high. While Swiatek may bounce back in Rome, Sabalenka’s form and mindset suggest this could finally be her moment in Paris.
🎾 Final Score:
A. Sabalenka (1) def. C. Gauff (4) – 6-3, 7-6(3)
With this win, Sabalenka joins Petra Kvitova as the only woman to win three Madrid Open titles, and now holds a 6-0 record against Top 10 players in 2025. As she heads into Rome and then Roland Garros, her game is peaking—and the rest of the field is officially on notice.
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