The world number one Aryna Sabalenka has overcome a response from the second set of the fourth seeded Coco Gauff to ensure a 6-3 7-6 victory (3) and win his third Madrid Open on Saturday while the three-time winner won his third title this year on the WTA tour.
Sabalenka, who played the last three finals of the WTA 1000 tournament, equaled the Petra Kvitova record for three open titles from Madrid. She also caught up in head, with five victories each after 10 meetings.
“I still like to fight against you, you are such a fighter,” Sabalenka told Gauff during the presentation ceremony after winning his sixth consecutive match against the opponents classified among the first 10 this year without abandoning a set.
“I’m super happy to have been able to win this year.”
A dominant Sabalenka won four consecutive games without conceding a point to build a 4-1 advance in the first set. Although the former US Open Gauff champion retaliated with a break to do it 4-2, the Bélarus obtained the set with another break.
Gauff broke Sabalenka to go 2-1 in the second set and kept under pressure to build a 5-3 advance. But the double defects of Gauff by serving for the set allowed Sabalenka to break up and do it 5-5 before winning the title during an equality break.
“Incredible tournament, you are always difficult to face … Congratulations on all the success you have,” Gauff in Sabalenka told GAUFS.
“I hope I can be back in this position next year.”
