Aryna Sabalenka achieved a remarkable feat at the Mutua Madrid Open, securing her third title at the event on Saturday. The World No. 1`s victory solidified her dominance in Madrid and further increased her lead in the PIF WTA Rankings.
Her win continued a trend of success in this clay-court WTA 1000 tournament during odd-numbered years, following triumphs in 2021 and 2023. This third title puts Sabalenka level with Petra Kvitova for the most Madrid Open championships. It seems she isn`t planning to stop accumulating titles anytime soon.
Reflecting on her win, Sabalenka commented, “This year was simply incredible. Every time I was on the court, I felt immense support. It provided me with extra energy and strength to compete fiercely, no matter the circumstances.”
She added, “Seeing all the posters held by kids felt like a dream. It`s truly enjoyable to play in front of everyone and feel that support – I believe that`s the greatest aspect of life.”
The tournament in Madrid offered many other notable moments and performances. Here are some additional highlights from the event:
Related News
- Commentary on Sabalenka`s dominance in Madrid and future prospects.
- Cirstea and Kalinskaya won the Madrid doubles title in their first tournament together.
- Naomi Osaka claimed the Saint Malo 125 title; Dalma Galfi extended her winning streak by winning the Vic 125.
Key Statistics
- Since the WTA 1000 Madrid event began in 2009, only two players have won both Miami and Madrid in the same season: Serena Williams in 2013 and Aryna Sabalenka this year.
- Sabalenka currently leads the tour with 31 match victories in 2024, ahead of Jessica Pegula, who had been the leader entering Madrid.
- She saved 40 break points during the Madrid fortnight, a feat not seen at a WTA 1000 event since Maria Sakkari saved 42 in Guadalajara in 2022.
- Coco Gauff reached her first clay-court WTA 1000 final in Madrid. She is just the fourth American woman to achieve this since the format started in 2009, joining Serena Williams, Madison Keys, and Jessica Pegula.
- World No. 56 Moyuka Uchijima had a breakthrough tournament, reaching the quarterfinals. She has now reached more WTA Tour quarterfinals in the past three weeks (including Rouen) than in her entire prior career.
Tournament Buzz
Beyond the matches, players shared moments from the tournament on social media. Aryna Sabalenka was active online, reflecting her presence both on and off the court. She even shared a humorous moment where her racquet slipped during the final.
Other players engaged with the local culture, with some practicing Spanish place-name pronunciation and a group including Ons Jabeur and Demi Schuurs visiting Real Madrid City.
Standout Performances
- Coco Gauff: Reached her first clay-court final since the 2022 French Open by impressively defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek. Her performance positions her to potentially reclaim her career-high ranking of World No. 2.
- Elina Svitolina: Enjoyed a successful run on clay, winning nine consecutive matches (18 sets won without reply) before her streak was ended by Sabalenka in the semifinals.
- Marta Kostyuk: Also reached the quarterfinals, challenging eventual champion Sabalenka in a tight match decided by two tiebreaks.
- Moyuka Uchijima: Was the tournament`s surprise, securing her first two career Top 25 wins, including an upset over No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, en route to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance.
- Sorana Cirstea and Anna Kalinskaya: In their first event playing together, this duo clinched the doubles title, defeating the top seeds early on and overcoming Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the final.
- Naomi Osaka: The four-time Grand Slam champion returned to the winner`s circle for the first time since 2021, taking the WTA 125 title in Saint Malo as a wildcard entry.
- Dalma Galfi: The Hungarian player extended her winning streak to 10 matches by winning the WTA 125 title in Vic, following her earlier victory in Oeiras two weeks prior.
Shot of the Tournament
One of the highlights was an incredible shot by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her second-round match against Yuliia Starodubtseva, pulling off a remarkable passing shot after Starodubtseva`s smash.
What`s Next
The clay-court season continues with the next WTA 1000 event: the Internazionali BNL d`Italia in Rome, Italy, marking the 82nd edition of the tournament. Information regarding the draws, scores, and order of play is available.
The question now is whether Sabalenka can maintain her form and win her first Rome title, or if Iga Swiatek, who has dominated in Rome recently, will claim her fourth championship at the Foro Italico. Main draw competition starts on Tuesday, May 6.
