 "Madrid Open Final, Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka: Preview, head-to-head and everything you need to know")
Iga Swiatek defeated Madison Keys on Thursday to reach the Madrid Open final and set up a summit clash against No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka . Top-ranked Swiatek thrashed No. 20 Keys 6-1, 6-3 and will next face the defending champion Sabalenka, who fought back to beat No. 4-ranked Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
The Madrid Open is the only high-profile European clay-court title that Swiatek is yet to win and she was stopped last year in the final by her upcoming opponent Sabalenka. Swiatek vs Sabalenka is turning into one of the most aggressive rivalries in the women’s tennis circuit.
Before the mega final, here’s everything you need to know.
How Swiatek and Sabalenka reached the final?
Swiatek has been in top form in Madrid, losing just one set across five matches. She defeated Wang Xiyu, Sorana Cirstea and Sara Sorribes Tormo in her first three matches before losing her only set in the quarter-finals against Beatriz Haddad Maia.
She defeated Keys in the semi-final.
Sabalenka had a contrasting journey to the final. All her wins including the semi-finals have been a three-set affair except the quarter-final against Mirra Andreeva. She also defeated Magda Linette, Robin Montgomery and Danielle Collins on her way to the final.
She dropped 60 games in her journey and that’s the most for a woman player to reach the final at the Madrid Open.
Swiatek vs Sabalenka head-to-head
The tennis superstars have been together involved in nine matches so far with Swiatek leading 6-3. Sabalenka, however, defeated Swiatek in the Madrid Open final last year, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch her second title.
In their latest meeting at the WTA Finals Cancun semi-finals in November 2023, Swiatek won 6-3, 6-2.
What are the points and prize money at stake?
The winner of the Madrid Open will get 1,000 ranking points and prize money of €963,225. The runner-up will get 650 ranking points and €512,260 in prize money.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
