Sabalenka sinks Swiatek to clinch Madrid Open final

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has turned the tables on world No.1 Iga Swiatek to win a gripping battle in the final of the Madrid Open.

The world's two leading female players were meeting in the final for the second event in a row after Swiatek successfully defended her title in Stuttgart.

But the top seed had to settle for second best here as Sabalenka powered to a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory to claim her third title of the season.

Although Swiatek still has a big lead in the rankings, the gap has certainly closed and world No.2 Sabalenka confirmed her status as the best player in 2023 so far ahead of the upcoming French Open.

Women's tennis has been crying out for a rivalry at the top of the game and this is shaping up to be a good one.

They are contrasting players with very different personalities - Belarusian Sabalenka bubbly and ultra-aggressive on court, while Poland's Swiatek is a self-declared introvert who uses her supreme athleticism to dominate.

"I am just super happy with this win, especially against Iga on clay," Sabalenka said.

"Women's tennis needs this kind of consistency, to see the world No.1 and world No.2 facing (off) in the finals.

"That's something amazing, and hopefully we can keep doing what we are doing this season."

Throw Wimbledon and Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina into the mix, and the WTA can begin to look forward with optimism despite the lack of household names.

Sabalenka was desperate to get revenge over Swiatek and she learned the lessons from Stuttgart with a controlled but relentlessly offensive first set.

The Belarusian looked frustrated after failing to take two break points at 3-2 but did not allow her head to drop and made the breakthrough to lead 5-3 before clinching her first set on clay against the Pole.

Swiatek responded impressively, opening up a 3-0 lead in the second set, but back came Sabalenka to level with some tremendous power tennis.

However, Swiatek dug in and reeled off another three games in a row to level proceedings at the Caja Magica.

Both knew how important the start of the decider was and, with the intensity levels increasing still further, Sabalenka produced some of her best tennis of the match to move 3-0 in front.

Swiatek rallied again as she looked to maintain her proud record in finals - she had won 14 of her previous 16 - but, having levelled at 3-3, she was helpless as Sabalenka broke once more to lead 5-3 before overcoming her nerves to clinch her fourth match point.

The WTA Tour said on Saturday former French Open semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova was taking an indefinite break from tennis due to burnout and mental-health concerns.

The WTA said the 21-year-old world No.46 had given no time-frame for a return to the tour.