Swiatek outlasts Sabalenka in marathon final to win Madrid Open
World number one Iga Swiatek won the Madrid Open title for the first time on Saturday, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in a nail-biting final that was a rematch of last year's summit clash at the WTA 1000 claycourt tournament.
Sabalenka had won the 2023 final in three sets, but Swiatek triumphed this time, saving three championship points to win her 20th career title and deny the Belarussian a third title on the red clay of the Spanish capital.
The match, the first of the season between the top two women's rankings, lived up to expectations, lasting three hours and 11 minutes and becoming the longest encounter between the two Grand Slam champions.
Swiatek's victory improved her record against her Belarussian rival to 7-3, as the three-time French Open champion claimed the only major claycourt title missing from her glittering resume.
"Aryna, to many more finals! It's always a challenge playing you. Thanks for always motivating me and forcing me to be a better player," Swiatek said at the trophy presentation.
In the first set, Sabalenka used her powerful forehand to great effect, firing winners past Swiatek that had the crowd roaring with approval, but the Belarussian struggled to convert break points against the world number one.
Swiatek responded by being more measured in her approach to point construction and making the decisive break at 5-5 before serving out the set, clinching it when Sabalenka's return popped up off the netcord, setting up an easy winner for the Pole.
Sabalenka increased her intensity in the second set, taking a 2-0 lead and nearly going 3-0 up, but her first double fault of the match allowed Swiatek to get on the board before she broke again to put the set back on serve.
However, at 5-4, Sabalenka maintained her focus as the Belarusian smashed a forehand winner down the line to force a decider and go the distance for the fifth time in six tournament matches.
Although the top seeds traded breaks in the final set, there was little separating the two until Sabalenka had match points.
Swiatek, on the other hand, remained composed when she served to stay in the game, saving two match points on her way to forcing the tiebreak.
Swiatek also had a match point taken away from her before clinching victory on her second chance when Sabalenka's return went long, and the Pole collapsed in relief and exhaustion.
"I tried to make this match as long as possible... Hopefully next year it goes to me," Sabalenka said.
"Three hours, that's a long one! Hopefully we recover fast for the next tournament."
SportsLigue