by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Arnya Sabalenka has for the last two years or so been a trendy, outside-the-box pick to win a Grand Slam tournament title.
While the hard-hitting Belarussian has been hovering in and out of the Top 10 since 2019 – and earning the world No. 1 doubles ranking with two Grand Slam doubles titles – she has, unusually, never even cracked the quarterfinal barrier in singles at a major.
Sabalenka, however, made a statement that she is at least ready to reach the final eight at a Grand Slam by upsetting world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty to win the biggest title of her career in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open.
The Belarussian’s 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win avenged her loss to Barty in Stuttgart just 13 days earlier and ended the 2019 French Open champion’s run of 16 consecutive wins on clay.
“To be honest, after the final in Stuttgart I was injured, I couldn’t move and wanted to withdraw. But the recovery was good, in four days I feel better and now I’m the champion. It’s been an amazing week,” she said after the match.
Sabalenka dominated Barty in the first set, breaking her serve three times in the second, fourth and sixth games and committing just one unforced error.
Barty rallied to take the second set, but in the decisive set, Sabalenka again showcased her aggressive play to clinch the title and move to a career high ranking of No. 4. Sabalenka trailed 15-30 at 3-4 in the final set, but won the next 11 points to win the match.
