In a statement victory in tennis’s blossoming heavyweight rivalry, Aryna Sabalenka maintained her composure to secure her first clay-court win against Iga Swiatek and triumph at the Madrid Open for the second time. The Belarusian, ranked No. 2, edged out the No. 1 in three intense, quality sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Sabalenka Triumphs in Madrid Open
The head-to-head between Sabalenka and Swiatek narrowed to 5-3 in Swiatek’s favor as Sabalenka denied her rival the only big clay-court title missing on her résumé. It was the latest victory in a breakout year for the 25-year-old.
Sabalenka has won three titles, including her maiden grand slam tournament at the Australian Open. She has also reached the final in five of her seven tournaments so far, compiling a supreme 29-4 (88%) record, and has five WTA 1000 titles and 13 overall.
A day before the pair traveled to Madrid, Swiatek edged out Sabalenka in the final of the Stuttgart Open. This meeting marked the first time in 23 years that the top two players have faced each other in consecutive finals.
While players rarely state their preferred opponents, Sabalenka had made it clear that she wanted to face Swiatek again and take her revenge. In Madrid’s high altitude, the conditions were as favorable as the Belarusian could hope for against the two-time French Open champion.
Sabalenka started brilliantly, dominating the opening set without facing a single break point. Despite wearing her heart on her sleeve for so much of her career, Sabalenka has paired her technical improvements on her serve with a newfound calmness and maturity under pressure.
She demonstrated the progress she has made this year in the decisive moments, even as a resolute Swiatek pulled a 3-0 lead back to 3-3 in the final set.
Sabalenka’s Calmness and Maturity Under Pressure
In the final game, Swiatek made her last stand, spectacularly saving three match points. Sabalenka rose to the challenge and closed off one of the most significant wins of her career. After years of unpredictable results on the tour, Swiatek and Sabalenka have set themselves apart from the field because of their ball-striking prowess, athleticism, and consistency. Elena Rybakina also looms on the faster surfaces.
As the action heads to Rome, with the French Open to come, they remain the competitors everyone wants to beat. Swiatek said, “I’m pretty happy that people are watching. I think with our level, we are getting better and better. So there are more exciting matches.”
Sabalenka also showed her respect for Swiatek, stating that she is a great player, and what she did last season, and what she has kept doing, really motivated her to improve and keep working hard. Sabalenka also acknowledged the battles between them, saying, “It’s always really great matches. To have this win, especially on clay, that’s something
