Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis phenom and world No. 4, faced a familiar foe in the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open final on May 3: world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The blockbuster showdown, their 10th career meeting, promised a clash of power and precision. Despite Gauff’s sensational run to her first Madrid final, including a stunning 6-1, 6-1 semifinal upset over defending champion Iga Swiatek, she fell short against Sabalenka, losing 6-3, 7-6(3). The defeat not only denied Gauff her first clay-court WTA 1000 title but also spotlighted a persistent issue that continues to haunt her game: her serve. As former world No. 1 Andy Roddick put it, “I think even she would say that” her serve remains her biggest liability.
Gauff’s journey to the Madrid final was a testament to her resilience. After a shaky start, dropping a 6-0 set to Dayana Yastremska in her opener, she roared back with commanding wins over Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, rising star Mirra Andreeva, and Swiatek. Her semifinal demolition of Swiatek marked one of the Pole’s most lopsided losses on clay and fueled optimism that Gauff could claim her third WTA 1000 crown. Holding a 5-4 head-to-head edge over Sabalenka, including a straight-sets victory at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Gauff entered the final as a slight underdog but brimming with confidence.
However, Sabalenka, a two-time Madrid champion (2021, 2023), was unrelenting. The Belarusian, who had cruised through her draw with just one set dropped, unleashed her aggressive game from the outset. She reeled off 17 consecutive points to build a 4-1 lead in the first set, capitalizing on Gauff’s shaky serving. Gauff, who struck eight double faults in the match, struggled to land her first serve, managing only a 52% first-serve percentage. “First serve percentage was really low,” Gauff admitted post-match. “When you’re playing someone as aggressive as Aryna, you definitely have to put more first serves in the court. I wish I could’ve done that better.” Sabalenka, by contrast, was clinical, serving just two double faults and winning 76.3% of her first-serve points.
The second set showcased Gauff’s fighting spirit. She broke Sabalenka early to lead 2-1 and later served for the set at 5-4. A perfectly executed passing shot highlighted her defensive prowess, but her serve faltered at critical moments. Sabalenka pounced, forcing a tiebreak and seizing control with a 7-3 victory to clinch her third Madrid title, tying Petra Kvitova’s record. “I’m super happy that I was able to handle my emotions at the end of the second set,” Sabalenka told reporters. “It was really intense and it was a real fight over there.” Gauff, gracious in defeat, congratulated Sabalenka, noting, “I’d like to congratulate Aryna on an incredible tournament.”
The match exposed Gauff’s serving woes, a recurring issue that has plagued her 2025 season. Leading the WTA with 121 double faults in 18 matches before Stuttgart, Gauff’s serve has been a vulnerability, especially under pressure. In Madrid, her eight double faults handed Sabalenka crucial openings, echoing a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Jasmine Paolini in Stuttgart where she was broken five times. Social media buzzed with fan frustration, one user lamenting, “Can’t Coco Gauff hire a serve coach? Eight double faults too much. The serve let Coco down again.” Analysts like CoCo Vandeweghe, who predicted Sabalenka’s win, pointed to Gauff’s emotional letdown after her Swiatek victory as a factor, but the serve remained the focal point.
Despite the loss, Gauff’s Madrid run was a breakthrough. Her first final of 2025 and her ability to topple Swiatek signal a return to form after a patchy season. A win would have vaulted her to No. 2 in the rankings, overtaking Swiatek, but she remains No. 3. As she heads to the Italian Open, starting May 6, Gauff is optimistic. “I had a set point in the second set and a couple chances in the tiebreak to go up,” she reflected, vowing to address her serve. Sabalenka, now 5-5 in their head-to-head, praised Gauff’s resurgence, saying, “We had a lot of great battles against each other, very tough ones.” With Roland Garros looming, Gauff’s talent is undeniable, but solving her serving puzzle will be key to unlocking her full potential on clay and beyond.
Leave a Reply