MADRID — World number one Iga Swiatek edged Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in a gripping and grueling Madrid Open final to win the title for the first time on Saturday in what was a repeat of last year’s summit clash at the WTA 1000 claycourt tournament.
Ms. Sabalenka had won the 2023 final in three sets but it was Ms. Swiatek who triumphed this time after saving three championship points to secure her 20th career title and deny the Belarusian a third title on the red clay of the Spanish capital.
The match was the first contest of the season between the top two in the women’s rankings and it lived up to expectations, going down as the longest encounter between the two Grand Slam champions at three hours and 11 minutes.
Victory improved Ms. Swiatek’s record over her Belarusian rival to 7-3 as the three-times French Open champion bagged the only major claycourt title that was missing on her glittering resume.
In the opening set, Ms. Sabalenka used her powerful forehand to great effect, firing winners past Ms. Swiatek that had the crowd roaring their approval, but the Belarusian struggled to convert break points against the world number one.
In response, Ms. Swiatek was more measured in her approach to constructing points and made the decisive break at 5-5 before serving out the set, clinching it when Ms. Sabalenka’s return popped up off the netcord and set up an easy winner for the Pole.
Ms. Sabalenka raised her intensity in the second set and took a 2-0 lead and nearly went 3-0 up but her first double fault of the match opened the door for Ms. Swiatek to get on the board before she broke again to put the set back on serve.
“I tried to make this match as long as possible… Hopefully next year it goes to me,” Ms. Sabalenka said. — Reuters
