Gauff experiences setback against Sabalenka in Madrid Open, pinpoints positives from the match.
Down but Not Out: Coco Gauff Reflects on Madrid Open Final Loss to Aryna Sabalenka
Coco Gauff remained upbeat after a tough defeat against Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final last weekend. The 21-year-old American called the loss a "step in the right direction" as she continues her 2025 campaign.
Sabalenka, the reigning world No. 1, clinched her third Madrid title with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Gauff. With this win, Sabalenka secured her third tournament triumph of the season and notched her 20th career title, equaling Petra Kvitova's record for the most all-time wins at the Madrid event.
Gauff battled valiantly from a 4-1 deficit and even erased a championship point in the second set. However, her comeback attempt fell slightly short in the tiebreaker. Despite the loss, this match still marked another significant milestone for Gauff, following her strong semifinal performance over Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka and Gauff have forged one of the WTA Tour's most fierce rivalries, with their head-to-head record now tied at 5-5[1][4]. Their matches have become increasingly high-stakes, with four encounters in semifinals or finals since 2023[2]. The 2025 Madrid clash was their second career final meeting, with Sabalenka earning her revenge after losing to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final[2].
"Congratulations on all your success," Gauff said to Sabalenka during the trophy ceremony, as reported by Ffione Wynee of BBC Sports. "This has been a step in the right direction for me. It is one of my favorite cities and tournaments to come to, and hopefully we can go on and win more from here.”
The women's final was played ahead of the much-anticipated men's final between Casper Ruud and Jack Draper, which took place on Sunday.
Sources:
- Associated Press. (2025, May). Sabalenka defeats Gauff to claim Madrid title[1].
- WTA Tour. (n.d.). Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff: Head-to-Head[2].
- BBC Sports. (n.d.). Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka: Madrid Open final - as it happened[3].
- Sportadvisor.com. (n.d.). The Evolution of Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka: A detailed analysis of their rivalry[4].
Despite her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final, Coco Gauff considers it a step in the right direction for her 2025 campaign. Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, won her third Madrid title, clinching her 20th career title in the process. The women's tennis rivalry between Gauff and Sabalenka, which has produced four semifinals or finals since 2023, saw the Belarusian earn her revenge after losing to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final. Hopefully, this marks the start of more victories for both players in the future championships and tournaments of the sports world, including tennis.
