Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are set to face off in the women’s singles final at this year’s Madrid Open. The two players have demonstrated excellent form throughout the season, and this will be their eighth encounter, with Swiatek leading the head-to-head 5-2. They last met in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final in Stuttgart, where Swiatek emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Swiatek’s Journey to the Final
Entering the Madrid Open as the top seed, Swiatek started with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Julia Grabher, followed by a 6-3, 6-2 victory against 28th seed Bernarda Pera. In the fourth round, she faced 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, winning the opening set 6-4. However, the Russian fought back and won the second set 7-6(3) but Swiatek ultimately won the final set 6-3 to secure her place in the quarterfinals. She continued her impressive run by defeating 27th seed Petra Martic 6-0, 6-3 and then 12th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final.
Sabalenka’s Path to the Final
Sabalenka, seeded second at the Madrid Open, began the tournament by beating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3. She went on to defeat Camila Osorio 6-4, 7-5 before triumphing 6-3, 6-1 over teenager Mirra Andreeva, ensuring her place in the quarterfinals. In her match against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif, Sabalenka lost the opening set 6-2 but came back strong, winning the second set 6-2 and the final set 6-1 to reach the semifinals. Her victory against ninth seed Maria Sakkari with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline secured her spot in the Madrid Open final for the second time in her career.
Potential Outcomes of the Final
Swiatek is in sensational form and is considered the favorite to win the match. However, if Sabalenka plays at her best, she has the potential to defeat the Pole. Should she emerge victorious, Sabalenka will become the fourth player to win the Madrid Open multiple times. If Swiatek wins, she will secure her third title of the year and her 14th overall.
The Madrid Open final between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will take place on Saturday, May 6.
