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Aryna Sabalenka matches two of Serena Williams’ WTA records after beating Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open final

Serena Williams (L) holding the 2014 US Open title, Aryna Sabalenka (R) holding the Madrid Open title
Credit: Julian Finney/Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
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Aryna Sabalenka is now a three-time Madrid Open champion after defeating Coco Gauff in the final 6-3, 7-6.

Sabalenka overcame an in-form Gauff, dominating the first set and edging out the American in a second-set tiebreak.

Her triumph cements a hat-trick of Madrid Open titles, having clinched the title previously in 2021 and 2023.

The win marks Sabalenka’s third title of 2025. She has made six finals this year, emerging victorious in Brisbane and Miami.

The Belarusian has already broken records at this year’s Madrid Open and has now matched two records held by 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams.

Mutua Madrid Open - Day Twelve
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka ties Serena Williams in two WTA records

Now tied with Petra Kvitova for most Madrid Open titles won, Sabalenka has three tour-level clay titles to her name.

With all three coming at the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event, the world number one has matched a record previously held by only Serena Willams.

The Belarusian is just the second player to win her first three clay titles at either a Grand Slam, Tier 1, or WTA 1000 event.

Williams’ first three clay titles came at Rome in 2002, Roland Garros the same year, and Charleston in 2008.

Sabalenka is also now the second player, after Williams, with three titles in two different WTA-1000 events since the format’s introduction in 2009, with trebles in Wuhan and now Madrid.

The American legend won both Miami and Rome three times each in her illustrious career.

Sabalenka’s record in Madrid over the years

Sabalenka has made seven appearances at the Madrid Open, her first coming in 2018, where she lost in the first round as a qualifier.

After another first-round exit in 2019, Sabalenka won in 2021, where she defeated three-time Grand Slam champion Ashleigh Barty in the final.

YearRoundOpponent
2018First RoundBernarda Pera
2019First RoundSvetlana Kuznetsova
2021WinnerAshleigh Barty
2022First RoundAmanda Anisimova
2023WinnerIga Swiatek
2024FinalIga Swiatek
2025WinnerCoco Gauff

Her 2021 victory kicked off a pattern of winning the tournament in odd-numbered years, as she went on to lose in the first round in 2022, and win the event for a second time in 2023.

Sabalenka came away empty-handed in a final rematch against Iga Swiatek in 2024, falling to the Pole in a closely contested three set match.

The world number one now has her crown back in Madrid, and will look to build on this momentum heading into Roland Garros, one of two majors that still elude her.