It figured to be more of the same at the start of Madrid. Dayana Yastrameska of Ukraine bageled her in the first set of their opening match, 6-0. Gauff managed to steady herself and survive that day, though it was dicey to the end, with Gauff failing to serve out the match on her first attempt.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won a record-equaling Madrid Open title on Saturday, defeating the USA’s Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the final.

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have forged a fierce rivalry, often clashing in the high-stakes rounds of major tournaments. Their unforgettable US Open final in 2023 still lingers in memory! Coco, just 19,