Women's world number one Iga Swiatek became queen of the Spanish clay for the first time in her career with an absorbing three-set win over Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Madrid Open.
The clash between the two highest-ranked players on the globe was a repeat of the 2023 showpiece, which Sabalenka triumphed in, and the Belarusian was just one point away from retaining her crown on Saturday.
Rather than defending her title, though, Sabalenka was deposed, as Swiatek saved all three match points and held her nerve in an unmissable tie-breaker to succeed 7-5, 4-6, 7-6[7] in the longest final of the 2024 season so far.
The world number one and world number two went toe-to-toe for three hours and 11 minutes in the Spanish capital, and by the end, Swiatek collapsed in ecstasy on the clay after earning her maiden Madrid Open title.
The Pole's latest Masters triumph also marked her 20th career title overall - nine of which have been won at WTA 1000 level - and her third of the season, following victories in Qatar and Indian Wells.
Since going down to Sabalenka in last year's Madrid Open final, Swiatek has won each of her last seven championship matches, but she did not prolong her successful streak on the WTA Tour without a gargantuan effort.
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏...
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 4, 2024
IGA SWIATEK WINS THE MADRID OPEN IN AN INCREDIBLE FINAL! 🇵🇱🏆 pic.twitter.com/QlWFyB4EEv
Swiatek comes up clutch in nail-biting tie-breaker
The pair traded breaks in the first two games of the match, but Sabalenka wasted another three chances to repeat the trick before losing serve in the 11th as Swiatek edged a tight opening set.
Twice the Pole fought back from a break down in the second too, but while serving to avoid a decider, she fell victim to a magnificent forehand winner down the line from Sabalenka, which ensured that the final would go the distance.
The 2023 champion had already experienced her fair share of three-setters in Madrid, and her exceptional stamina would seemingly win out in the third set, where she drew first blood for a 3-1 advantage.
However, in true world number one fashion, Swiatek responded with an immediate break back and saved two match points in the 12th game to set up a championship-deciding tie-breaker, where an opportunity to seal glory passed both women by.
On her second trophy point, though, Swiatek brilliantly returned a powerful Sabalenka serve and subsequent backhand - sliding across the clay to reach the latter - but the Belarusian had just overcooked that shot, allowing a tearful Swiatek to bask in Madrid stardom.
Now the youngest player to win 20 WTA Tour titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012, Swiatek has also ticked off the final box on one of her clay-court checklists, having won every European tournament on the surface at WTA 500 level or above.
Following a sensational women's main event, the men's headline act sees Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime vie for glory on Sunday.
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