Sabalenka Outlasts Rybakina In Madrid Masters Thriller, Gets Swiatek In Final
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The rematch is set as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will battle for the Madrid Masters title for the second straight year.
Swiatek, the clear best play on clay, rolled into her final dispatching Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3. The Polish world No. 1 dropped one set all week en route to her 24th career final, 10th at the Masters 1000 level and second in Madrid.
“It was a pretty clean performance and really solid game from myself,” Swiatek said. “I’m happy with everything.”
“I’m happy that we can play a final against the top players,” added Swiatek. “It shows consistency. For sure it’s going to be a challenge, whoever it’s gonna be, and a tough match. I will be ready. I will focus on myself. Yeah, we’ll see.”
Under the lights, Sabalenka held off Elena Rybakina in a tough tussle 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). Rybakina, winner of her last 15, dominated early taking the first then going a break 4-2 in the second. Sabalenka rose up to the challenge, deny Rybakina bid to serve it out by winning five of the last six games of the set.
The third was tight as both used their big serves and power games. Sabalenka would save break point at 5-all and get into a breaker when she jumped ahead 5-2 and hung on for her 11th straight Madrid win.
“I was struggling a lot on my serve in the first set, and definitely, easy games on my serve gave me a bit more belief that I still got some chances in this match,” Sabalenka said to the WTA website. “That’s kind of gave me an extra energy to keep fighting and keep trying on her serve to break her and get back in the match.”
The win also keeps Sabalenka at the No. 2 ranking.
In her 27th final, Sabalenka will bid for a 15th title and sixth Masters 1000 title. Swiatek is seeking a 20th trophy.
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