Looking back at the 2,640 matches played on the Hologic WTA Tour last year, the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open final might well stand out as the most exceptional.
This high-stakes encounter featured the world`s top two players, who have consistently held the top ranking for over three years. Given the dramatic conclusion, it`s understandable that this memorable match holds very different places in the minds of the competitors.
“Honestly,” Iga Swiatek shared recently, “I just think about it from time to time, but not in a really specific way.”
Aryna Sabalenka`s response to the same query was similar:
“Honestly, I didn’t really think about it that much until this moment.”
It was Swiatek who ultimately claimed victory, overcoming three match points to win 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) in a grueling 3 hours and 11 minutes and secure the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open title. This final was the longest of the previous season and one of only two where the winner saved match points, a rare blend of high-level play and sheer resilience.
A highly anticipated third consecutive Madrid final between these two rivals did not materialize this year.
Sabalenka successfully reached the final, defeating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-5 in a relatively straightforward semifinal. However, Swiatek was unexpectedly defeated in her semifinal by fourth seed Coco Gauff, losing decisively with scores of 6-1, 6-1.
The unique conditions at La Caja Magica in Madrid contributed to a more balanced playing field in 2024. Swiatek, a multiple Roland Garros champion, is a master of the slow, heavy red clay. But Madrid`s higher altitude results in thinner air, which speeds up the ball just enough to slightly reduce Swiatek`s clay advantage and enhance Sabalenka`s powerful game.
It`s no coincidence that Sabalenka`s only two career clay court titles were won here in Madrid, in 2021 and 2023 – the latter victory coming against Swiatek in the final. Sabalenka boasts an impressive record in Madrid, having won 22 of her last 24 matches at the venue.
While Swiatek dominated European clay events from 2020-23, winning titles multiple times in Paris, Rome, and Stuttgart, the Madrid title had eluded her. Sabalenka, meanwhile, was aiming to equal Petra Kvitova’s record of three Madrid titles. Going into the 2024 final, Swiatek held a 7-2 head-to-head lead against Sabalenka and had won their previous seven final meetings since the 2023 Madrid loss.
After the first two sets were split, the match nearly concluded before the third-set tiebreak. Serving at 5-6, Swiatek faced two match points against her.
In that tense moment, Swiatek`s thoughts turned to Rafael Nadal’s comeback from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 Australian Open final.
“I remember exactly when he was playing Medvedev in Australia, and it clicked for him,” Swiatek said of her idol. “That kind of gave me hope that maybe it will click, even after two hours.”
After successfully saving a total of three match points throughout the set, Swiatek managed to survive and eventually win the match when a backhand from Sabalenka went long. Swiatek immediately fell to the court, covering her face in a mix of relief and triumph.
“Who is going to say that women’s tennis is boring now?” Swiatek exclaimed to the cheering crowd. She added, “Congrats as well to Aryna because we both had an amazing effort today.”
Swiatek later shared her surprise regarding her mental state during the match.
“I was surprised that in the third set I felt the best mentally. Because, yeah, I actually felt like I needed to dig through for these two hours and it didn’t really work. I was, like, ‘Oh, my God, am I going to feel a little bit more loose soon?’”
Sabalenka, despite the painful loss, appeared stoic immediately after the match.
“I’m going to suffer for a day, and tomorrow I’m leaving to Rome, so I’m going to forget it quickly,” Sabalenka told reporters. “It’s my birthday tomorrow. I hope I’m going to be in a good mood.”
She then added with a touch of humor:
“I’m going to be in a bad mood. I am 26 tomorrow. It sucks.”
This victory marked Swiatek`s ninth WTA 1000 title and the 20th overall title of her career. At the time, she became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki achieved the feat twelve years prior.
One year on, both players offered their reflections on the memorable final.
“That match was, yeah, it was a ball-buster,” Sabalenka commented. “That was amazing match, even though I lost it. This is like nothing I can be upset with, to be honest. I did my best there, and she just outplayed me.”
Swiatek shared her perspective:
“It’s hard to relive it, because there are not many matches that are so intense and on such a high level. Sometimes the finals are actually a bit worse level than quarterfinals or semis, because the players are a little bit tight. But me and Aryna, we put on a great show, for sure. Also for the fans, I think it was great to watch it.”
