Aryna Sabalenka completed a dream week at the Madrid Open, beating world No.1 Ash Barty to win her biggest ever title.
In the latest installment of their compelling rivalry, Sabalenka overcame Barty 6-0 3-6 6-4 to win her 10th career title, and first on clay.
The result saw Sabalenka avenge this year’s three-set losses to Barty in the Miami Open quarterfinals and the recent Stuttgart final.
Also on Saturday, Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev set up a clash for the men’s title after winning their semifinals in straight sets.
Berrettini crushed 24 winners to Casper Ruud’s seven in beating the Norwegian 6-4 6-4, after Zverev backed up his upset of top seed Rafael Nadal with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Dominic Thiem.
Zverev, a Madrid champion in 2018, takes a winning 2-1 head-to-head record into the final against Berrettini, who is seeking his first ATP Masters title.
Sabalenka unstoppable
Sabalenka entered the final having dropped a total of just 18 games across five match wins in Madrid, and averaging almost 30 winners per match.
She then completely overwhelmed Barty in the opening set, striking 11 winners to four – while committing just one unforced error – and handing Barty her first bagel set loss in almost four years.
The Australian, in typical fashion, stymied her opponent’s momentum and worked her way into the match, sending the final to a deciding set.
But despite holding two break points in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead, and coming within two points of a 5-3 lead at 15-30 in the eighth game, Barty was unable to take those chances.
Or rather, Sabalenka did not let her; the Belarusian won the final 11 points of the match, improving her record on clay in 2021 to 10-1.
Barty: "Right from the get-go she put me under the pump on my service games. She served well in the big moments. You have to tip your hat and say too good when she comes up with serves at 185, 190+ on big points. That's why she's a very, very fierce competitor. Great athlete."
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 8, 2021
“Something change in my mind for the clay court for this year. I'm not really scared of this surface anymore,” smiled Sabalenka, whose previous nine titles were all won on hard courts.
“I think what I did really well here, I stay focused from the beginning till the end. I was putting her under the pressure, especially in the end of the third set. Like in those key moments I was a little bit more aggressive. That's what really helped me to win this match.
“It was crazy match there. I'm really happy that I could win this one. It feels amazing right now.”
After levelling her head-to-head record with Barty at 4-4, Sabalenka has now won 33 of her past 39 matches and will rise to a career-high ranking of No.4 on Monday.
Meanwhile, Barty’s nine-match winning streak comes to an end after her first loss on European red clay since Rome 2019.
Men’s final set
Another winning streak, however, remains alive, with Berrettini unbeaten in his past eight matches.
Ruud’s impressive clay-court form, helped by one of the heaviest forehands in the game, was a big talking point in Madrid, yet it was Berrettini dominating from that wing, powering 16 forehand winners past Ruud – who managed just four for the match – to win in one hour and 22 minutes.
“It's just a great feeling. Especially … after the struggle after my injury (in Australia), I think I work really hard. I'm maybe even more happy,” Berrettini said.
“I saw (Zverev), he's playing really good. He's solid. He moves well. He serves well. He beat Rafa and Dominic, probably the best players on clay.
“It's going to be a challenge match, but I'm in the finals. I guess the best two guys are going to play each other.”
Earlier in the day, Zverev turned the tables on Thiem, who had beaten the German in their last meeting in the 2020 US Open final.
Zverev is yet to drop a set in Madrid this year and on Sunday will play for his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title.
“It's been so far a good week for me. (But) the job is not done yet,” Zverev said.
“Tomorrow I have a very difficult opponent. I hope I can continue playing and performing the way I am.”