Aryna Sabalenka was searching for her third Madrid Open title at this year’s tournament.
The Belarusian star has proven herself to be a class above on the WTA Tour in 2025 during the early months of the season.
Sabalenka had won the Brisbane International in January and the Miami Open in March, but was looking to add a third title to her collection in Madrid.
The world number one dropped just one set all tournament as she made her way past the likes of Peyton Stearns, Marta Kostyuk, and Elina Svitolina, to book her spot in the final.
There, she took down Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6, as she shared a prediction about the American during her post-match speech.
Aryna Sabalenka predicts she will play ‘many more’ finals against Coco Gauff in the future.
Speaking after her third Madrid Open title victory, Sabalenka shared some kind words to her opponent.
“I want to congratulate Coco [Gauff] and her team on an incredible couple of weeks here,” she said.
“I am super happy to see you back in the final, playing your best tennis.”
The Belarusian then made a prediction that will surely have fans of both players excited about what’s to come.
“I am pretty sure we are going to play many more times in the finals,” said Sabalenka.
“I mean, I hope I am going to get all of them, but I always enjoy fighting against you, you are such a fighter, and I am happy to see you back, honestly.
“Thank you. Thank you for this final.”
Sabalenka’s win over Gauff saw her level their head-to-head record at 5-5, as one of the most entertaining rivalries on the WTA Tour took another turn.
| Match | Surface | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 Madrid Open – F | Clay | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2024 WTA Finals – SF | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 Wuhan – SF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2024 Australian Open – SF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 US Open – F | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 Indian Wells – QF | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 6-4, 6-0 |
| 2022 Toronto – 3R | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 |
| 2021 Rome – 3R | Clay | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 2020 Ostrava – 2R | Hard | Aryna Sabalenka | Coco Gauff | 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2020 Lexington – 2R | Hard | Coco Gauff | Aryna Sabalenka | 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 |
It was, however, just their second career meeting in a final, with Sabalenka finally avenging her defeat from the 2023 US Open, where Gauff picked up her maiden Grand Slam title.
Colin Fleming says he is ‘gutted’ for Coco Gauff after her game ‘unravelled’ in the Madrid Open final
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, former British doubles star Colin Fleming was sympathetic towards the 21-year-old.
“I’m gutted for Coco Gauff,” he said.
“I thought she was the better, marginally better player for a good chunk of the second set, obviously got to 5-4 serving [for the match].
“We were sitting courtside, almost saying, when the pressure is on, that’s when your technique is really tested. Unfortunately three double faults in that game at 5-4, then at 5-5, the forehand went.
“Then it unravelled from there, she did well to get to the tiebreak, but we’ve seen all tournament when the pressure is on, the big moment, that is when Sabalenka is at her best and she made it hers again.”
Gauff’s serving issues returned in Saturday’s final, as she hit eight double faults in defeat to Sabalenka.
| Player | Aces | Double faults | First serve % | Win % on first serve | Win % on second serve |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 2 | 2 | 69% | 68% | 75% |
| Coco Gauff | 2 | 8 | 55% | 57% | 53% |
Another former British star, Annabel Croft, weighed in, picking the player she believed played the ‘better tennis’ during the final.
“It was an intriguing match because it wasn’t a great start from Coco Gauff, and I thought at one stage it was going to be a bit of a whitewash,” she said.
“Then suddenly she just released and started getting everything going towards the back end of that first set. In the second set, she was way more on the front foot, started to be more aggressive, and pushed Sabalenka into defensive positions.
“But oh my goodness, there were some dramatic moments, set point, match point, and then into the tiebreak, but I have to say Sabalenka did play the better tennis.”
Sabalenka’s win saw her extend her gap at the top of the WTA rankings, while Gauff missed out on a chance to overtake Iga Swiatek for world number two.
- 1. Aryna Sabalenka – 11,118 points
- 2. Iga Swiatek – 6,773 points
- 3. Coco Gauff – 6,603 points
- 4. Jessica Pegula – 6,273 points
- 5. Jasmine Paolini – 4,875 points
Both Gauff and Sabalenka will be back in action before too long, as they travel to Rome for the Italian Open, which gets underway on Monday, May 5.
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