20th career title for the World No. 1!
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reiterated why people call her the sole best player in the world on Saturday. The Belarusian produced a swashbuckling performance to down 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open 2025 final. Sabalenka, who won the trophy at the Spanish capital in 2021 and 2023, earned herself a 6-3 7-6(3) win to become a three-time champion at the event.
Sabalenka has reached four straight finals now, and six of them in 2025. The 26-year-old has three championships to show for it. Gauff, who was having a mediocre season thus far, outplayed the likes of Mirra Andreeva and Iga Swiatek this week. While it was always going to be an uphill task for Sabalenka to live up to the high standards she sets, the top seed flexed her muscles on Manolo Santana Stadium.
Sabalenka was the dictator of play from the baseline, and didn’t allow the No. 4 seed to control the rallies. She recorded her tour-leading 31st win in the process, as well as the 20th title of her blooming career. The match was unfortunately decided by a Coco Gauff double fault, leading the World No. 1 to regain a crown that she has had to relinquish twice previously. A trophy-holder in Madrid from 2021 and 2023, Sabalenka now ties Petra Kvitova as the most illustrious female athlete at La Caja Magica.
When Gauff opened the match with a service hold, things looked ominous for Sabalenka. Just as the pressure built up, she grabbed 17 straight points and raced to a 4-1 lead. The American was bidding to attain the World No. 2 ranking, and broke back once to narrow the deficit. However, her three-time Grand Slam winning opponent forced the errors out of her racquet to capture the opener 6-3.
In the second set, Gauff was able to land more accurate serves, and applied the pressure for a 3-1 lead. Serving for the set at 5-4, a series of double faults and a squandered set point led to Sabalenka breaking back. In the tiebreaker that followed suit soon, the 21-year-old succumbed to the monumental occasion. Another double fault closed out a historic victory for Aryna Sabalenka.
Both players had some kind words for each other in the aftermath of the slugfest. Sabalenka, who has now won back to back WTA-1000 trophies and her 9th WTA-1000 title overall, praised Coco Gauff for her fighting spirit. “I’m super happy to see you back in the finals, playing your best tennis,” she said. “I’m pretty sure we’re gonna play many more times in the finals. I hope I’m gonna get all of them, but I always enjoy fighting against you. You’re such a fighter.”
Sabalenka now joins Serena Williams in an elite stat – they are the only two women to win the Miami Open and Madrid Open in the same season. Recognising her impeccable form, Gauff had some kind words herself. “You’re always tough to face. Congrats to your team! Well, you’re always doing well – but the last four straight finals I think. Congrats on all the success you’ve been having.”
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Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are expected to head to Rome next, for the Italian Open. Soon after, they will arrive in Paris for the iconic Roland Garros Championships.
