Tennis-Swiatek outlasts Sabalenka in marathon final to win Madrid Open

Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 4, 2024 Poland's Iga Swiatek and Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka shake hands after their final match REUTERS/Susana Vera

MADRID (Reuters) -World number one Iga Swiatek edged Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 4-6 7-6(7) in a gripping and gruelling Madrid Open final to win the title for the first time on Saturday in what was a repeat of last year's summit clash at the WTA 1000 claycourt tournament.

Sabalenka had won the 2023 final in three sets but it was Swiatek who triumphed this time after saving three championship points to secure her 20th career title and deny the Belarusian a third title on the red clay of the Spanish capital.