Tennis-Sabalenka takes positives from Madrid Open defeat to Swiatek

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 4, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek poses with the trophy and with runner up Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka after winning the final match REUTERS/Susana Vera

(Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka said she was encouraged by the level of her performances in the Madrid Open despite her defeat to world number one Iga Swiatek in the final on Saturday.

Sabalenka, who lost 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in the gripping final, has struggled in recent months, winning just four matches in the four tournaments that followed her Australian Open title defence in January.