Sabalenka downs top-ranked Barty to claim Madrid crown

In claiming victory, the Belarusian gained revenge after being beaten by the Australian in the Stuttgart Open final a fortnight ago.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning the Madrid Open title on Saturday.

Aryna Sabalenka was in ominous form as she overpowered world number one Ashleigh Barty 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Madrid Open on Saturday.

In claiming victory, the Belarusian gained revenge after being beaten by the Australian in the Stuttgart Open final a fortnight ago.

On a windy day in Madrid, Sabalenka's first set shotmaking was nothing short of sensational as she combined her trademark big hits from the baseline with deft drop shots to leave the Australian reeling, serving it out inside 25 minutes.

The world number seven had not dropped a set coming into the final and after threatening to run away with the title, Barty finally broke her momentum by breaking in the first game of the second set.

The Belarusian snaps the World No.1's red clay win streak at 16 matches to claim her first title on the dirt @SabalenkaA | #MMOPENpic.twitter.com/6HyJOoL43q

— wta (@WTA) May 8, 2021

 

Barty failed to hold on to that advantage but showed her depth of talent to break again and send the match into a decider.

Both players held serve until Sabalenka broke Barty to love to go 5-4 up before serving out to secure the win.