MADRID — Aryna Sabalenka captured her third Madrid Open title on Saturday with a gritty 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Coco Gauff, surviving a dramatic second set and sealing the win in a high-stakes tiebreak.
The world No. 1 got off to a blistering start, dominating the opening set and winning 17 consecutive points during one stretch. But Gauff, known for her resilience, battled back in the second, overturning an early deficit to take a 5-3 lead.
Just when it looked like Gauff might force a deciding set, Sabalenka surged, breaking back to level the set at 5-5. The American saved six break points to keep herself in contention, but the Belarusian held her nerve when it mattered most.
In the tiebreak, Gauff erased a 3-0 deficit to pull even at 3-3, but a costly double fault handed Sabalenka the edge. The 26-year-old capitalized to close out the match and secure her third Madrid title, adding to her previous wins in 2021 and 2023.
The victory marked Sabalenka’s third tournament win of the 2025 season, alongside triumphs in Brisbane and Miami. It also tied her with Petra Kvitova for the most Madrid titles in the Open Era, with three apiece.
“This one means a lot,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “Congratulations to Coco—you’re a true fighter and always a tough opponent. I love competing against you. To my team, thank you. We’ve been through so much this season.”
Gauff, who had stunned Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, was gracious in defeat. “Congrats to Aryna—this is four finals in a row for you, which is incredible,” she said. “This week has been a positive step for me. Madrid is one of my favorite cities, and I hope to keep building on this performance.”
The final was a clash of two in-form players. Sabalenka came in as the world’s top-ranked player, while Gauff arrived riding high after a landmark win over Swiatek—her first on clay. Despite falling short, Gauff showed her continued growth on the surface and signaled that more big wins may lie ahead.
