The world’s number one ARYNA Sabalenka overcomes another-set fightback of the fourth seed Coco Gauff to secure a 6-3 7-6 (3) win and squeeze her third Madrid open Saturday when the three times big winner claimed his third title this year on the WTA Tour.
Sabalenka, who has played the last three finals in the WTA 1000 tournament, equalized Petra Kvitova’s record feature of the three Madrid Open titles. She also caught Gauff in head-to-head with five wins per year. Piece after 10 meetings.
“I always enjoy fighting you, you’re such a fighter,” Sabalenka told Gauff at the presentation ceremony after she won her sixth straight match against the top-10 ranked opponents this year without dropping a set.
“I’m super glad I was able to win this year.”
A dominant Sabalenka won four games just without admitting a point to build a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although former US open champion Gauff fought back with a break to make it 4-2, the Belarusian set secured with another break.
Gauff broke Sabalenka to go 2-1 up in the second set and kept under pressure to build a 5-3 lead. But Gauff’s double error while serving the set allowed Sabalenka to break back and make it 5-5 before winning the title in a draw.
“Incredible tournament, you’re always tough to meet … Congratulations on all the success you have,” Gauff told Sabalenka.
“Hopefully I can be back in this position next year.”
