Aryna Sabalenka continued her stunning run of form in 2025 by claiming her third Madrid Open crown, defeating American star Coco Gauff in straight sets. The world No. 1 showcased both power and poise en route to a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory at the Caja Mágica, adding to her growing legacy on clay courts and strengthening her hold on the top spot in the WTA rankings.
This triumph marks Sabalenka’s third career title in the Spanish capital, having previously lifted the trophy in 2021 and 2023. It’s a sweet return to glory after narrowly missing out last year, when she fell to Iga Swiatek in a tightly contested final. With this latest win, Sabalenka now boasts a commanding lead of over 4,000 points in the rankings over her closest competitors. Although Swiatek retains her position at No. 2, Gauff remains just behind, still seeking a breakthrough at the elite level.
From the outset, Sabalenka set the tone with an aggressive and precise performance. In a blistering start, she reeled off 17 consecutive points, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set and leaving Gauff searching for answers. While Gauff eventually settled into the match, she was unable to claw back the deficit, and Sabalenka closed out the first set with characteristic authority.
The second set offered more drama and resilience from the American. Gauff, who had won five of her previous nine meetings with Sabalenka, began to find her rhythm and even took a 2-1 lead after breaking serve. Showing glimpses of the form that brought her to the Madrid final, Gauff held her nerve to serve for the set at 5-4. However, Sabalenka dug deep, saving a set point and breaking back on her fifth opportunity. A light-hearted moment came during that tense game when the Belarusian dropped her racket mid-rally, momentarily easing the tension with a smile.
The momentum shifted once more as the set moved into a tiebreak. Gauff, despite saving a match point at 5-6 with a gutsy second serve, could not maintain the intensity. Sabalenka took control of the breaker, and on her second match point, was gifted the title after a double fault from Gauff sealed her fate.
Reflecting on the victory, Sabalenka expressed pride in her mental fortitude during the closing stages. “I’m super happy that I was able to handle my emotions at the end of the second set,” she said in her post-match interview with the Tennis Channel. “It was really intense and it was a real fight over there. I’m very happy I was able to close this match in two sets.”
Gauff, ever gracious in defeat, praised her opponent during the trophy ceremony. “I’d like to congratulate Aryna on an incredible tournament. You’re always tough to face. Congrats to your team. Congrats on all the success you’ve been having.”
With this victory, Sabalenka adds the Madrid title to her 2025 wins in Brisbane and Miami, further underlining her remarkable consistency. She has now reached the final in six of the eight tournaments she’s played this year—a testament to her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis this season.