Sabalenka stuns Barty to win Madrid Open; Zverev enters final

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka stunned world number one Ashleigh Barty to win the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday. Sabalenka was beaten by Barty in the final in Stuttgart last month but exacted revenge at the Caja Magica, a storming 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory clinching the biggest title of her career.

The 23-year-old has never gone past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but on this evidence she will be among the contenders at the French Open, which starts in Paris later this month.

This was Sabalenka’s 10th career title but her first on clay and it will see her rise to number four in the world rankings on Monday.

Barty was the heavy favourite heading into the final, especially after beating Sabalenka in Stuttgart last month, also on clay, in a match that also went to three sets.

The Australian appeared to have recovered from a chastening opening set, after levelling up in the second and then leading 4-3, 30-15 on Sabalenka’s serve in the decider.

But her opponent never gave in and produced a brilliant finish by winning the last 11 consecutive points to hand Barty her first defeat on red clay since 2019 in Rome.

“To be honest after the final in Stuttgart, I was injured, I couldn’t move and wanted to withdraw,” Sabalenka said on court afterwards.

“But the recovery was good, in four days I feel better and now I’m the champion. It’s been an amazing week.”

Barty will still be one of the favourites at Roland Garros, where the Australian won her first Grand Slam title in 2019.

Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev produced an impressive display to beat Dominic Thiem in straight sets on Saturday and book his spot in the Madrid Open final, where he will face either Casper Ruud or Matteo Berrettini.

Fifth seed Zverev, who stunned five-time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals on Friday, saw off Thiem 6-3, 6-4 in a repeat of the 2018 final, which was also won by the German.

“It is going to mean a lot to me (if I can win the final) I am definitely looking forward to it,” said the 24-year-old Zverev, bidding to win the title without dropping a set, as he did three years ago.

Thiem threatened a late fightback after trailing 4-1 in the second set, but had too much to do to reach a third Madrid final.

The Austrian third seed will now turn his attentions to Rome next week and then the French Open which starts later this month, where he is also a two-time runner-up.

Agence France-Presse