Aryna Sabalenka overcame a vibrant counterattack from Coco Gauff to win her third Madrid Open title with an exciting victory of 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
World No. 1 Sabalenka took over the opening ceremony, but wasted the championship point in a volatile second set as Gauff forced a tiebreak.
As Gauff recovered from 3-0 to 3-3, there was little to separate them, but the double fault gave the 26-year-old Sabalenka a victory.
Both reached the final with confidence, with the Belarusian Sabalenka being the best in the world, Gauff behind her stunning semifinals defeating Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka made a start to the flight, which included a 17-point straight win, but Gauff's brave recovery gave her a 5-3 lead in the second set.
The 21-year-old American then saved six rest points in a 5-5 record to thwart Sabalenka's comeback.
But Sabalenka has endured her nerves in the sixth final of 2025 so far, adding Madrid's title to the wins of Brisbane and Miami.
