May 06, (THEWILL) – Aryna Sabalenka beat world number one, Iga Swiatek, in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open, securing her second title on clay and 13th career title.
Sabalenka’s win was well-deserved, with the Belarusian player dominating throughout the contest and proving to be the more aggressive player on the court. Sabalenka’s victory marks the first time since 2014 that the top two players in the world have faced off in a WTA Tour final, and the third time in the past four decades that the two have met twice on clay in the same season, making it a significant rivalry to watch.
Sabalenka had previously lost to Swiatek in the Stuttgart final, and the Belarusian player declared that she wanted revenge, which she achieved in Madrid. Sabalenka had a breakthrough year in 2023, winning the Adelaide 1 title and her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. In the Madrid final, Sabalenka’s power was too much for Swiatek, who struggled to keep up with her opponent’s aggressive playing style.
Despite Swiatek’s efforts to fight back, Sabalenka held her nerve to win the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 25 minutes. The victory cements Sabalenka’s position as the player to watch in 2023, with her tour-leading tally of 29-4 for the year so far.
The Belarusian player now joins an elite group of players, who have won the Madrid title more than once, including Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, and Serena Williams.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
