Tennis player Sabalenka secures her 20th title victory.
Title: Sabalenka Claims Third Madrid Open Title, Equaling Kvitova's Record!
In a nail-biting final, world number one Aryna Sabalenka outplayed No. 4 Coco Gauff on Saturday night (May 4, 2025, PH time) to reclaim the Madrid Open crown and notch up her 20th career title.
Slotting in 17 unanswered points to open the first set and breaking free in a tense second-set tiebreaker (6-3, 7-6 (3)), Sabalenka clinched the match on the Caja Mágica clay court, replicating Petra Kvitova's record for the most Madrid Open titles.
Sabalenka's triumph not only propelled her to equal Kvitova's hat-trick but also solidified her 2025 campaign as the season's leading title-holder, following her wins in Brisbane and Miami. The contest between these two titans ended with a 5-5 head-to-head stalemate, marking both players as formidable rivals.
The young guns' spectacular tussle
Emerging promisingly, Gauff had only suffered a single set defeat en route to the final, and the 2023 U.S. Open champion's spotless run ceased there. The 19-year-old fitted out Sabalenka with some stern challenges, diversifying her shots and making the veteran sweat. However, Sabalenka responded with grit, refusing to allow her resilience to falter and ultimately clinching the tiebreaker.
Sabalenka's victory was fraught with echoes of last year's loss to Iga Swiatek in the final, where she squandered three championship points but managed to regroup this time around. After missing a winning shot in the second set, Sabalenka recovered her composure and sealed her 31st win of the year with a tense comeback.
As the dust settled on the Madrid Open arena, Sabalenka celebrated her aggressive exhaustion-defying victory by raising her arms triumphantly as Gauff's returning shot kissed the net.
An emotional victory
Reflecting on her hard-fought success, Sabalenka shared her feelings: "It was a really tough match. At the end of the second set, it was incredibly intense, and I was very emotional. I am pleased that I was able to maintain my composure in those critical moments."
The upcoming men's final will witness Casper Ruud and Jack Draper locking horns on Sunday.
[1] Sabalenka Outlasts Gauff in Madrid Open Final[2] Kvitova and Sabalenka - A Grand Slam Match for the Ages[4] The Road to Victory: Sabalenka's Madrilenian Triumph
- The 2025 Madrid Open Final saw Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff engaging in a thrilling contest, reminiscent of the young guns' spectacular tussle.
- Sabalenka's victory, marked by her managing to replicate Petra Kvitova's record for the most Madrid Open titles, was hard-fought and extremely emotional.
- With her triumph in the Madrid Open, Sabalenka solidified her status as the leading sports tennis title holder of the 2025 season, adding to her wins in Brisbane and Miami.
