Aryna Sabalenka Faces Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open Final
3 days ago - Sports
Aryna Sabalenka, the world's top ranked tennis player, is set to face Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open final. The highly anticipated match is expected to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's best players. Sabalenka has been in exceptional form this season, and she will be looking to continue her dominance on the court.
Sabalenka has had a near perfect season so far, with a tour leading 30 victories. She has reached her 37th career final, 10th on clay, and sixth of 2025. The world No. 1 has been efficient throughout the week in Madrid, winning in straight sets in all but one of her matches. She raised her level when she had to against both Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina in the last two rounds. Sabalenka's extra power should give her the edge in these high altitude conditions.
Coco Gauff, on the other hand, has also been on fire this week at the Caja Magica. After a slow start in her opening round, Gauff has been unbeatable, culminating with a 6 1, 6 1 drubbing of defending champion Iga Swiatek. Gauff leads Sabalenka 5 4 in their head to head, splitting their two 2024 meetings in Wuhan and the WTA Finals. Gauff is looking to win her first clay court WTA 1000 title and become the third woman this season to beat both Sabalenka and Swiatek in back to back matches.
The match between Sabalenka and Gauff is likely to be a closely contested one. Sabalenka has an unbeaten 5 0 record against Top 10 opponents in 2025, while Gauff has a 2 1 record against Top 10 opponents this year. Gauff is bidding to improve her phenomenal 9 1 record in finals to date, while Sabalenka is looking to lift her third Madrid trophy, tying Petra Kvitova for the most Madrid titles won.
Sabalenka has been the most dominant force in the women's game since last summer when she captured her third major title at the 2024 US Open. She has been consistent throughout the season, with the exception of a near miss in the finals of the Australian Open and a subsequent Middle East hangover. Gauff, on the other hand, has been on an upswing after an emphatic week at the Caja Magica. Her victory over Swiatek was a statement win, and she will be looking to continue her momentum against Sabalenka.
The match between Sabalenka and Gauff is expected to be a thrilling contest. Both players have been in exceptional form, and the match is likely to come down to the margins. Sabalenka's extra power and Gauff's agility and quick reflexes will be key factors in determining the outcome of the match. The crowd can expect a high quality match with both players giving their best.
Sabalenka is a 155 moneyline favorite, while Gauff is a +120 underdog. The winner of the match will take home a total of 1,000 points and €985,030. Both players have already assured themselves 650 PIF WTA Ranking points and €523,870 in prize money by making it to the final. A win for Gauff could see her move up to No. 2 in the rankings, while Sabalenka is guaranteed to remain World No. 1.