If the match must be played on the ground, Madrid is the stage to feel the heat. Arina Sabalenka, armed with thunderous groundstrokes, poses a constant threat when the ball accelerates. Belarus’s strength on clay takes a hit, yet Madrid’s altitude eases that disadvantage, a factor Sabalenka exploited once more in this final at Mutua Madrid Open—won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
The final stretched to 2 hours and 25 minutes, a marathon that pitted Sabalenka against Iga Swiatek, world No. 2 versus No. 1. They traded power and placement over three intense sets in the Magic Box, delivering a match that kept the audience on edge until the last point. Sabalenka claimed the decisive moments and sealed the victory with precision to reclaim Madrid’s crown as the top player on her favorite surface.
That moment, celebrated across social media, underscored Sabalenka’s triumphal return at the Madrid Open.
Sabalenka had never defeated Swiatek on clay prior to this match, having fallen in Stuttgart two weeks earlier. Of Sabalenka’s twelve clay titles, only one had come on this surface before Madrid, yet the day belonged to the Belarussian as she produced one of the finest women’s finals in Mutua Madrid Open history.
Sabalenka started strong
The Belarussian did not allow a single break in the opening set, gradually asserting control over Madrid’s court. Swiatek sought to lengthen rallies and blunt Sabalenka’s formidable forehand, but the server’s edge proved decisive. Swiatek offered a glimpse of resistance at 15-40 on a third serve, yet Sabalenka held firm and converted the break when it mattered, closing the first set 6-3.
Swiatek answered with urgency in the second, winning the first three games and testing Sabalenka’s serve. The set unfolded with greater intensity, and Sabalenka steadied the ship, reclaiming serve in the fifth game and shaping a more dynamic frame as the set evolved.
Swiatek battled back in the seventh game with Sabalenka facing 15-40, and the Pole found a way to survive the threat. After a lengthy exchange, Swiatek endured a second game timeout and kept the score tight, sending the second set to a tiebreak without a clear edge for either side. The set eventually swung Sabalenka’s way as she rose to the challenge and forced a decisive third frame.
Fabulous third set
The third set delivered a showcase of high-stakes tennis. The crowd witnessed a relentless duel as both players exchanged blows and alternated momentum. Sabalenka broke Swiatek’s serve early in the set, then translated that pressure into a second break that put Sabalenka in control at a key moment.
Swiatek appeared to be gathering momentum, briefly racing ahead, yet Sabalenka’s focus remained razor-sharp. The Polish star fought back to extend the tension, saving match points and staving off the endgame as the hour grew late. In the end, Sabalenka found the final opening and delivered the blow, securing Madrid’s title once again with a final, decisive clutch of points in the late stages of the set.
The Madrid crowd roared as Sabalenka confirmed the victory, reclaiming a tournament that has long symbolized her return to peak form on clay and reaffirming her status among the tour’s strongest competitors.