The thrilling three-hour battle in the Madrid Open final between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka ended up in the former’s favor 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(9-7). Following her first victory in Madrid, Swiatek asked the critics whether they still felt women’s tennis is boring.
Swiatek prevailed after saving three match points to clinch her eighth career title on clay. After the match, when a journalist asked her about women’s tennis, Swiatek said it’s all about the emotions the matches evoke.
Well, I think, obviously, if we had to play against a man we would lose. It's not about that. It's about how two players match against each other. So I think we can play great matches. Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
The Pole asserted that instead of comparing the level of tennis, one should compare on the basis of how interesting and emotional the matches are.
I think it's all about what emotions it brings in people, and I think it's not that you should compare the level of tennis, but you should compare, like, what it gives you when you watch it. I think people can take a lot from watching women's tennis, and it can be interesting and emotional. Iga Swiatek added
The match was not like the previous ones Swiatek played in the tournament with easy straight-set wins. It was the longest WTA final of the season and choosing the winner beforehand seemed difficult.
Iga Swiatek is the first player born in the 2000s to lift 20 career titles
Madrid was the only clay-court event Iga Swiatek did not win. Since turning pro in 2016, she has been breaking records. The win in Madrid was just one of the milestones she achieved in her career.
The win made her the first player born in the 2000s (male or female) to lift 20 tour-level titles. In men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner (who were born in the 2000s) have 13 tour-level titles to their names.
Swiatek has four Grand Slam titles (three Roland Garros and one US Open), one WTA Finals, nine WTA 1000s, five WTA 500 trophies, and one WTA 250 title. She is now the youngest player to reach 20 career titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012.
The Madrid Open final was also the 22-year-old’s third title of the season, as she previously won the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Masters. It was also the rematch of the 2023 Madrid Open final, which Aryna Sabalenka won in three sets.
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