Aryna Sabalenka claims third Madrid title by leveling head-to-head with Coco Gauff

Make it three Mutua Madrid Open trophies for Aryna Sabalenka, who continues to distance herself from the rest of her chief rivals.

On Saturday, the world No. 1 defeated Coco Gauff, 6-3, 7-6 (3), to join Petra Kvitova as the only three-time winners of the WTA 1000 event. Sabalenka increased her perfect 2025 record against Top 10 opposition to 6-0 and improved to 3-3 in finals this season and 20-17 overall.

Gauff was bidding to lift her first 1000-level title on clay. Her loss ensures Iga Swiatek remains at No. 2 in the rankings heading into Rome’s Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

Having missed a second-serve return on break point in the opening game, Sabalenka soon established her presence on court by stringing together 17 consecutive points. In Gauff’s next service game, the top seed clubbed two forehand return winners to launch a break at love—and secured a rapid double break when the American double-faulted.

Gauff cut the deficit to 3-4, as Sabalenka’s forehand had patches of deceleration issues. Pushed to deuce, an ace up the T pushed the Belarusian ahead 5-3 before Gauff dropped serve for a third time.

The fourth seed regrouped, breaking for 2-1 in the second set with a terrific defensive stab that forced Sabalenka forward and left the line open for a forehand pass. With a stronger rhythm going, Gauff staved off two break points in the ad court with great variation on her first serve to reach 4-2.

When it came time to serve for a decider, Gauff initially buckled. Two double faults contributed to Sabalenka holding three break points. On the second, Sabalenka was left laughing after her racquet somehow slipped out of her hand while moving to Gauff’s sliced shot in the middle of the court. Gauff would later reach set point, but Sabalenka dug her heels in.

Leveling for 5-5, she shook off a shaky double fault to hold from 0-30. Gauff’s forehand didn’t help her cause in seeing the momentum reversed. Serving to force a tie-break, the 2023 US Open champion fought off a match point when Sabalenka’s backhand return sailed long.

Gauff wiped away an early mini break, only to give it back after changing sides with a forehand miscue. Sabalenka arrived at three match points on the back of two well-timed serves and drew even in the pair's head-to-head with five wins apiece after Gauff double-faulted to end the encounter.