Winner – Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka reaffirmed her dominance on clay by clinching her third Madrid Open title, defeating Coco Gauff 6–3, 7–6(3) in the final. This victory marks her 20th career WTA singles title, equaling Petra Kvitová’s record for the most Madrid titles in the Open Era. Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline play and mental fortitude were pivotal, especially as she rallied from a 3–5 deficit in the second set to clinch the match in a tiebreak. This win not only solidifies her position as World No. 1 but also marks her sixth final appearance in eight tournaments this season. Sabalenka expressed her gratitude towards the Madrid crowd, stating, “Seeing the posters with my photo and the children holding them is a dream”. Her powerful baseline game and improved mental fortitude have been pivotal in her recent successes, making her a formidable contender for the Rome and French Open.
Loser – Iga Swiatek
Defending champion Iga Swiatek faced a surprising exit in Madrid, falling to Coco Gauff in the semifinals. Despite her prowess on clay and quite a strong start to the season (22-7), Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm against Gauff’s aggressive play. This marked her first loss to Gauff on clay and raised concerns about her form ahead of the French Open. Analysts noted that Swiatek’s usually reliable game appeared uncharacteristically error-prone, with one commentator likening her performance to “the computer is malfunctioning”. The Pole’s challenge now will be to regain her confidence as she is the defending champion of the next two tournaments in Rome and Paris, which means 5,000 points to defend and a potential drop outside the top 5 of the ranking.
Winner – Moyuka Uchijima
Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars, advancing to the fourth round with impressive victories over higher-ranked opponents. Ranked No. 56 entering the tournament, the 23-year-old notched significant victories, including a straight-sets win over World No. 3 Jessica Pegula (6–3, 6–2) and a hard-fought triumph against Ekaterina Alexandrova (6–4, 7–6(5)). Her tenacity and tactical acumen on clay courts have garnered attention, signaling her potential to ascend in the WTA rankings as she has reached the 47th rank.
Loser – Qinwen Zheng
Qinwen Zheng entered Madrid with high expectations but faced an unexpected early-round defeat against Potapova (6-4, 6-4). Despite her powerful baseline game and previous strong performances, Zheng struggled to adapt to the conditions and her opponent’s tactics. She cited multiple factors for her defeat, including lingering effects from an elbow injury and a need to “rediscover the feeling of the game”. After two wins and an elimination against Alexandrova in Charleston, the Olympic clay champion still has the tournament in Rome to prepare herself before returning to the French capital where she won gold last season.
Winner – Belinda Bencic
Swiss star Belinda Bencic made a commendable run to the 4th round in Madrid, displaying her versatility and strategic prowess on clay, a surface that has historically been challenging for her. In a thrilling third-round match, Bencic overcame a 4–1 deficit in the final set to defeat No. 16 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6–3, 4–6, 7–6(2) after three hours of play. This victory marked her sixth Top 20 win of the season and signaled a promising return to form for her.
