Iga Swiatek delivers brilliant line about women’s tennis after epic Madrid Open final win
Iga Swiatek questioned how anyone could claim women’s tennis is boring after her thrilling victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the 2024 Madrid Open final.
The four-time Grand Slam winner, who saved three championship points, described the match as “the most intense and crazy final” she has played in her career.
Swiatek prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) against Sabalenka in a pulsating encounter lasting three hours and 11 minutes to triumph at the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday. It was a repeat of the 2023 final in Madrid, where Sabalenka had won in three sets.
The world No 1 earned the crucial break of a tight opening set at 5-5, while Sabalenka secured the decisive fifth break to take the second set with Swiatek serving at 4-5.
Sabalenka broke to take a 3-1 lead in the deciding set, but Swiatek hit straight back and later saved two match points when serving at 5-6 to force a tiebreak.
In a tense tiebreak, Swiatek saved another Sabalenka championship point at 6-7, before converting a second of her own to seal a dramatic victory for her maiden Madrid Open crown.
#1GA ➡️@iga_swiatek secures her 20th career title on the Hologic WTA Tour!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/jZMjXVjE0V
— wta (@WTA) May 4, 2024
The world No 1 has now won nine WTA 1000 titles and 20 tournaments overall, taking her record in finals to an outstanding 20-4.
The 22-year-old Pole now holds a 7-3 record against Sabalenka and she has extended her lead over her Belarusian rival at the top of the WTA Rankings.
In her on-court interview after the classic contest, Swiatek took aim at critics of women’s tennis as she ranked the final above any other she has played.
“Who’s gonna say now that women’s tennis is boring, right? I think it was the most intense and crazy final I played,” declared Swiatek.
— Out of Context Iga Świątek (@SwiatekOOC) May 4, 2024
“Out of every match [in my career], hard to say, but a final makes it even more crazy.”
During her post-match press conference, Swiatek highlighted the value of the women’s game when asked for her thoughts on female players competing against their male counterparts.
“If we had to play against a man, we would lose. It’s not about that. It’s about how two tennis players play against each other,” she said.
“I think we can have great matches. I’m number one, but I see these players in the top 10 who can play very intense battles.
“It’s about the emotions it awakens in people, we shouldn’t compare the level of tennis, but what it generates in you when you watch it. I think people can learn a lot from watching women’s tennis, it can be interesting and emotional.”