Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third Madrid Open title with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Coco Gauff in a gripping final.
The world number one looked in control after dominating the opening set and earning a championship point in the second, but Gauff mounted a spirited comeback to force a tie-break. Despite recovering from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 in the breaker, a costly double fault from the American handed the win to Sabalenka.
Both players entered the final full of confidence—Sabalenka as the tour’s top-ranked player and Gauff fresh from a stunning semi-final triumph over Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka raced through the first set with a blistering start, including a run of 17 consecutive points. However, Gauff dug deep in the second, breaking for a 5-3 lead and fending off six break points to stay in contention after Sabalenka had levelled at 5-5.
Ultimately, Sabalenka held her nerve in her sixth final of 2025, adding Madrid to her growing list of titles this season, which already includes Brisbane and Miami. She now joins Petra Kvitova as a three-time champion in Madrid, having also lifted the trophy in 2021 and 2023, and finishing runner-up to Swiatek in 2024.
“Congratulations to Coco. I’m so happy to see you back playing your best tennis,” Sabalenka said after the match. “You’re such a fighter, and I love playing against you. Thanks to my team—we’ve been through a lot together.”
Gauff praised her opponent, saying, “I think it’s four straight finals for you… Congratulations on all your success. This is a step in the right direction for me. Madrid is one of my favourite tournaments, and I hope to keep building from here.”
