For the Belarusian the second WTA 1000 in her career and beats the world number 1 on clay for the first time
– Milan
Two years after the victory over the Australian Barty (who was number 1 in the world at the time), Aryna Sabalenka is once again the queen of Madrid. The Belarusian conquers her second WTA 1000 in her career and beats the world number one Iga Swiatek, in a great match that finished 6-3 3-6 6-3 after two and a half hours. The winner of the 2023 Australian Open continues this fantastic year and also breaks a taboo, given that Swiatek had always defeated her in the previous three on red clay (the overall balance is now 5-3 for the Polish).
the madrid final
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The winners of the Belarusian make the difference, almost triple the opponent’s: the first set remains no need up to the eighth game, with Sabalenka winning the break on the fourth occasion and then going to serve for the set, without trembling. Statistics all in favor of Aryna, who serves more primes and scores much more percentage points with the first ball.
swiatek reaction
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In the second set, the number one in the world shows all her quality and goes up to 3-1 with a break lead. The fifth game, however, marks the turning point. Sabalenka takes the break back on the fourth opportunity with a monstrous full-arm backhand, getting back on track. Swiatek doesn’t let go and in the seventh game he saves two break points that the opponent had obtained with two extraordinary answers. The Pole completely raises the level of her tennis and breaks the break in the eighth game, closing the set 6-3 with a run of 12 points to 2.
Madrid epilogue
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Swiatek pays off the effort in the opening of the third set and Sabalenka escapes: at 40-40 (and 2-0 in favor of Aryna) the Belarusian pulls out the point of the match (after canceling the first break points of the match) with a bunt after an endless exchange and goes up 3-0 after the next point. But the match is wonderful: Swiatek is back in the running again, shortening to 3-2 with 8 consecutive points (the last one on a double fault by Sabalenka). The match is increasingly unpredictable and Aryna returns to full-arm shooting and goes up 5-3, going to serve for the match. But Iga is still there and gets a break point, which fails. Sabalenka manages to reach a championship point, but Swiatek cancels it, driving coach Manolo Santana crazy (it is no coincidence that they are number 2 and number 1 in the world). Swiatek disallows two more match points – one with a brilliant response – but at the fourth opportunity Aryna closes with a super straight 6-3 3-6 6-3 in two and a half hours, winning a stupendous final.
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