In a electrifying semifinal showdown at the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka brought an end to Elina Svitolina’s remarkable 11-match clay-court winning streak, securing a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 victory to advance to her fourth Madrid final in five years. The clash, played under the closed roof of the Manolo Santana Stadium, showcased Sabalenka’s raw power and mental resilience against Svitolina’s steely resolve, setting the stage for a blockbuster final against Coco Gauff. For tennis fans, the match was a testament to the high stakes and unrelenting intensity of the WTA 1000 stage, with both players pushing each other to the limit in a battle that captivated the Caja Magica crowd.
Svitolina, the 17th seed from Ukraine, entered the semifinal as one of the tournament’s standout stories. The 30-year-old, who had never progressed beyond the second round in her previous nine Madrid appearances, was riding an extraordinary wave of form. Undefeated on clay in 2025, she had won 22 consecutive sets, including a title in Rouen and two crucial victories in the Billie Jean King Cup. Her path to the semifinals featured dominant straight-set wins over Britain’s Sonay Kartal, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, and Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, the latter dispatched in a swift 6-2, 6-1 rout in just 52 minutes. “I have a lot on my plate, but I draw energy and motivation from my people,” Svitolina said, reflecting on her multifaceted life as a mother, philanthropist, and leader of a foundation supporting Ukraine’s national tennis team. Her resurgence, marked by a return to the top 15 in the rankings, had made her a formidable underdog.
Sabalenka, however, was a force to be reckoned with. The Belarusian, a two-time Madrid champion in 2021 and 2023, has long thrived on the high-altitude clay of the Spanish capital, boasting a 21-4 record at the event. Her 2025 season had been a masterclass in consistency, with 29 wins from 34 matches, titles in Brisbane and Miami, and runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and Stuttgart. Despite dropping a set to Elise Mertens in the third round and surviving a grueling quarterfinal against Marta Kostyuk, Sabalenka’s mental fortitude shone through. “Honestly, that was a battle and conditions were incredibly tough,” she said of her 7-6(4), 7-6(7) win over Kostyuk, which required saving three set points and navigating a rain delay. Against Svitolina, she knew the challenge would be even greater. “It’s difficult to beat Svitolina… Winning against her gives you great confidence and means you are in good shape,” Sabalenka later remarked.
The match began with Sabalenka asserting her dominance, winning four of the first five games behind a blistering serve that saw her claim 79% of first-serve points. A double fault from Svitolina handed Sabalenka a crucial break, and the Belarusian closed out the first set 6-3 with 13 winners to Svitolina’s nine. The second set was a rollercoaster, with Sabalenka breaking early to lead 4-2. Svitolina, however, refused to yield, saving a break point at 2-4 and capitalizing on a Sabalenka double fault and unforced error to level the score at 5-5. The Ukrainian’s tenacity, honed through her flawless clay campaign, kept her in the fight, but Sabalenka’s resolve proved unbreakable. Breaking Svitolina’s serve at 6-5, she sealed the match at the second attempt, ending the Ukrainian’s dream run and becoming the first WTA player to reach 30 match wins in 2025.
The victory extended Sabalenka’s head-to-head record against Svitolina to 5-1, though their clay-court battles have often been close, with two of three previous encounters going to three sets. For Svitolina, the loss marked the end of a historic streak, but her performance underscored her resurgence as a top-tier competitor. “Keep winning, that’s what I’m hoping for,” she had said before the match, acknowledging the challenge of facing Sabalenka. Despite the defeat, her Madrid campaign, highlighted by her first semifinal at a WTA 1000 event in nearly six years, signals a bright future.
Sabalenka now turns her attention to Coco Gauff, who stunned defending champion Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-1 in the other semifinal. With a 5-4 head-to-head edge over Gauff, Sabalenka is poised for a thrilling final, aiming for her ninth WTA 1000 title and a third Madrid crown. “I think I did really well and I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on her ability to thrive under pressure. As Madrid braces for a clash of titans, Sabalenka’s victory over Svitolina has cemented her status as a clay-court colossus, ready to chase another chapter of glory.
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