‘Like a dream,’ says Sabalenka after third Madrid Open crown

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka said her sensational form this year is “like a dream” after defeating Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) on Saturday to win her third Madrid Open title.

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Last year’s runner-up cruised past the American, ranked fourth, in the first set before digging deep in the second to triumph in a tie-break, sealing victory as Gauff double faulted.

Sabalenka recorded her tour-leading 31st victory this season on the Madrid clay, adding the WTA 1000 trophy to titles in Brisbane and Miami.

Itwas the sixth final she has reached this year and the 37th of her career, the fourth in five years at Madrid.

“(Getting to six finals] sounds crazy, to be honest... I work hard and I know that if I bring my game and if I fight for every point that I’m capable of that,” Sabalenka told reporters.

“But to actually like do it for real, I was like, OK, this is cool. This is... like a dream.”