Revenge Of the 2023 final, the duel between world No. 1 and 2 Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka kept all its promises this Saturday evening during the WTA 1000 final in Madrid. After 3h11 of play, it was the Pole who won, in three sets (7-5, 4-6, 7-6 [7]). She saved three match points at the end of the match to win her first title in Madrid. This is also her third WTA 1000 in 2024, having already won in Doha and Indian Wells.
Swiatek, or the superior art of opportunism, rigor, realism and management of emotions. Often battered by the attacks of Aryna Sabalenka, but so strong to keep a cool head and win the most important points, the Pole enriches her track record as an earthly ogress. By taking her revenge for the 2023 final at the last minute against the Belarusian, whom she has beaten three times out of four on clay to date, Swiatek won her seventh consecutive final in a disheveled match where everything was decided there is little between these two very high level fighters.
For this one, the world No. 1 was able to contain the impressive strong moments of her opponent while knowing how to get ahead when necessary, without ever wanting to let herself be defeated even at the height of the storm, until being led 3 -1 in the third set. Quite an art, helped by a great sense of anticipation on certain passing shots, backhands of all kinds to re-accelerate and a tactic which aimed to force on the opponent’s forehand. Magnificent in courage, Sabalenka often attempted the knockout. on overpowering attacks, without being destabilized by a few misses, without being discouraged by the efforts required to win a point, but ultimately erred on a few largesse and a fatal lack of opportunity on his match points. Often mistreated in the tournament, often conquering too, she finally gave in against her rival, who won her third title of the year after those of Doha and Indian Wells.
A spicy start to the second set
After sharing an initial break in a timid start to the match, the first set saw an ebb and flow between two players alternately under tension. Sabalenka, obviously the most impactful, had the opportunity to lead 4-2 on three wasted break points in return of service. Before Swiatek, at 3-3, can in turn take the service of his opponent, this time impeccable on two remarkable forehands, one along the line, the other uncrossed. A little neutral, the Pole seems to be forced to endure the attacks of the Belarusian. But the latter, hampered by Swiatek’s sliced serves, was imprecise on a few key points which ended up making the difference in this undecided round. A superb long backhand from the Pole allows her to make the break at 6-5 in a game strewn with errors from Sabalenka, before the world No. 1 closes the set thanks to an ace and an attack behind a serve impactful. Realistic.
The start of the second set, where the players exchange their serves four times, is particularly spicy. Sabalenka, who leads 3-1, is caught at 3-2 on an easy forehand attack which she nevertheless harvests on a break point… But the Belarusian is not discouraged in this part where everything seems to be able to change at any moment, between the counterattacks of one and the offensives of the other. At 5-4 for Sabalenka, Swiatek leads 30-15. But she made a double fault, was surprised by a superb backhand attack along the line, before being caught on the set point on a forehand attack along the line after a very timid first ball.
And Swiatek lay down on the ground
A decisive set was needed to complete this impetuous final contested under great tension. And everything increases in intensity. At 1-1, Sabalenka saves two new break points on two adjusted backhands while the Pole begins to show some signs of frustration. And in the next game, it was the Belarusian who took the advantage at 3-1 after a breathtaking exchange cut off by an unstoppable forehand shift. Is it folded? Of course not. Swiatek applies long returns and starts distributing again to return to 3-3. No doubt for either player: we must go for this title since there is no room for delay. At 4-4, trailing 0-30, Sabalenka did not lack courage by spicing up the game with a saving ace on the second ball. At 6-5, the Belarusian obtains two match points, one which she collects on a forced forehand, the other which Swiatek saves with an unstoppable forehand counter, epic after having been a bit feverish in this game.
Obviously, the tie-break is also breathtaking, with Sabalenka struggling in return and seeming to weaken physically. At 6-5 Swiatek, she saved a first match point with an ace, before obtaining a third at 7-6, which the Pole saved again by playing long on her opponent’s backhand. After 3h11 of an epic battle, Swiatek gets a second match point after a winning serve. That she makes it happen on a backhand from Sabalenka out of bounds. She deserved to lie down full length on the court.
