Sabalenka Triumphs Over Gauff in Madrid Open Final

MADRID, Spain — Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, won her third Madrid Open title on Saturday by defeating No. 4 seed Coco Gauff in a tightly contested final. The match ended with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3) on the clay courts of Caja Mágica.

This victory marked Sabalenka’s 20th career title on the WTA Tour, adding to her titles in Madrid from 2021 and 2023. She tied Petra Kvitova for the most Madrid Open titles in women’s singles history. Sabalenka’s win also secured her third title of the season, having previously triumphed in Brisbane and Miami.

Sabalenka established an early lead, winning the first set with powerful play. In the second set, Gauff fought back, serving for the set at 5-4. However, Sabalenka saved a set point and fought back to force a tiebreaker. “It was a really tough match,” Sabalenka said. “I was very emotional at the end of the second set, but I handled my emotions well.”

Gauff had been eyeing her first title of the year and a potential rise to the No. 2 ranking but fell short as her record in finals dropped to nine wins in 11 attempts. Despite her defeat, Gauff acknowledged Sabalenka’s success, stating, “Congrats to Aryna on an incredible tournament. You’re always tough to face.”

With this win, Sabalenka has not dropped a set against a top-10 player this year, while also leading the WTA in match wins with 31 in 2025. She expressed her joy at playing in Madrid, saying, “I just love this court, I love the support here, I think that’s the secret.” The victory further solidifies Sabalenka’s position as a dominant force in women’s tennis.