In one of the most thrilling matches of the year, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka went toe to toe until the Pole ace managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In the third and final set, Sabalenka seemed to be on top, having given herself three championship points on different occasions.
In all these moments, Swiatek held strong and played inspired tennis to save all the championship points and secure her own at 8-7 in the tiebreak. Sabalenka failed to do what her opponent had done during the final moments of the game and Swiatek fell to the ground, hands on her face, as she won her first Madrid Open title.
In an interview with Sky Sports immediately after the match, the World No. 1 was asked what she thought she did differently to save all those match points.
It’s just one of the hundreds of points you’ve played. I was trying to focus on technical stuff and just go for it. Iga Swiatek said
This shows the mentality of champions who do not let the pressure of the situation get to them. The method of treating every point the same way paid off for Swiatek in the end, allowing her to play more freely and just go for it, in her own words.