Iga Swiatek smashes these records with maiden Madrid Open title
What's the story
Polish world number one Iga Swiatek claimed her maiden Madrid Open title by beating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in a battle that lasted 3 hours and 11 minutes.
Swiatek won the final 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7). With this win, Swiatek claimed her 20th career victory and a third title this season.
The Pole won her ninth WTA 1000 title. Here are the stats.
Twitter Post
Champion!
🏆 1GA GOES ALL THE WAY IN MADRID 🏆
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 4, 2024
🇵🇱 @iga_swiatek dethrones Sabalenka after winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) in the longest women's singles final in #MMOPEN history.
The World No. 1 saved 3 match points on her way to the 🏆. pic.twitter.com/nkryJ4rljj
Numbers
Match stats and H2H record
Sabalenka doled out four aces compared to Swiatek's two. Both players committed four double faults each.
Swiatek won 67% on the first serve and a 57% win on the second.
Both players converted five break points each.
With this win, Swiatek has raced to a 7-3 win-loss record over Sabalenka in their head-to-head meetings on the WTA Tour.
Information
Three titles and 30 match-wins in 2024
Swiatek claimed her third title this season. She won the Qatar Open and Indian Wells Open before this. She is tied with Elena Rybakina in terms of titles this season (3) and match-wins (30).
Journey
Swiatek's journey in the tourney
Swiatek beat Wang Xiyu in the round of 64 (6-1, 6-2). In the round of 32, the women's singles world number one overcame Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1.
Sara Sorribes Tormo was her next scalp in R16.
Swiatek fought back from a set down to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the quarters.
She downed Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in the semis.
Opta stats
Swiatek attains these feats with Madrid Open win
Swiatek is the first player to win seven-plus successive WTA level finals since Swiatek herself (10, between Roland Garros 2020 and the US Open 2022).
By winning her ninth WTA 1000 honor, Swiatek equaled the likes of Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova. Only Serena Williams (13) and Victoria Azarenka (10) have won more since the format's introduction in 2009.
Information
Unique record for Swiatek
At 22 years and 338 days old, Swiatek has become the youngest player to secure eight WTA clay court titles since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario when she won Amelia Island in 1994 at 22 years and 114 days.
Records
Youngest to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012
As per WTA, Swiatek is the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012.
Swiatek, who has won the Roland Garros on three occasions, has claimed an European clay-court tournament at the WTA 500 level or above at least once.
Along with Madrid Open, she has also won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia twice.
Information
Madrid Open: Sabalenka suffers maiden defeat in final
Sabalenka suffered her maiden defeat in the final of the Madrid Open. She is a two-time winner here (2021 and 2023). She beat Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to win last season's Madrid Open.