Of the 2,640 matches played on the Hologic WTA Tour last year, the final of the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open was arguably the most exceptional.
This memorable encounter featured the world’s top two players, who have consistently held the No. 1 ranking for over three years. Unsurprisingly, given the dramatic outcome, this intense contest holds very different places in the memories of the participants.
“Honestly,” Iga Swiatek said recently when the topic arose, “I just think about it from time to time, but not in a really specific way.”
Aryna Sabalenka`s response to the same question was similar: “Honestly, I didn’t really think about it that much until this moment.”
Ultimately, it was Swiatek who claimed the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open title, prevailing over Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) in a match lasting 3 hours and 11 minutes. Swiatek saved three match points during the final. It was the longest final of the previous season and one of only two where the winner saved match points, a rare blend of high quality and extended duration.
However, a third consecutive Madrid final between these two rivals did not happen this year.
Sabalenka reached the semifinal as planned, securing a relatively routine 6-3, 7-5 win over Elina Svitolina. Swiatek, unexpectedly, was defeated 6-1, 6-1 by fourth seed Coco Gauff in her semifinal match.
The unique environment of La Caja Magica creates an unusually balanced court. Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, is renowned for her mastery on slow red clay. However, Madrid`s thinner air causes the ball to travel faster, which slightly negates Swiatek`s clay advantage and enhances Sabalenka’s powerful game.
It is notable that Sabalenka`s only two clay court titles came here in Madrid (2021 and 2023), the latter victory being against Swiatek in the final. Sabalenka currently holds an impressive record of winning 22 out of her last 24 matches in Madrid.
Between 2020 and 2023, Swiatek dominated European clay tournaments, winning multiple times in major events like Paris, Rome, and Stuttgart, but the Madrid title had eluded her. Meanwhile, Sabalenka was aiming to tie Petra Kvitova’s record of three Madrid titles. Heading into the 2024 final, Swiatek had a 7-2 head-to-head lead against Sabalenka and had won her last seven consecutive finals since her loss to Sabalenka in Madrid in 2023.
After splitting the first two sets, the match nearly ended before the final set tiebreak. With Swiatek serving at 5-6 in the third set, Sabalenka earned two match point opportunities.
Swiatek recalled the comeback of her idol, Rafael Nadal, who recovered from being 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 Nadal. “That kind of gave me hope that maybe it will click [for me], even after two hours.”
After saving a total of three match points, Swiatek managed to survive the challenge and won the match when a Sabalenka backhand landed long. Swiatek then dropped to the court, covering her face with her hands.
“Who is going to say that women’s tennis is boring now?” Swiatek told the crowd. “Congrats as well to Aryna because we both had an amazing effort today.”
Later, Swiatek commented, “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, on the other hand, remained composed.
“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 lightened the mood.
“I’m going to be in a bad mood. I am 26 tomorrow. It sucks.”
The victory marked Swiatek’s ninth WTA 1000 title and her 20th career singles title overall. She became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki accomplished the feat over a decade earlier.
One year on, both competitors reflected positively on the match.
“That match was, yeah, it was a ball-buster,” Sabalenka said. “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 commented, “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.”
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth