United States’ Coco Gauff returns to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the Madrid Open tennis final in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
United States’ Coco Gauff returns to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the Madrid Open tennis final in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
United States’ Coco Gauff, left, and the winner Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus stand on the podium after the Madrid Open tennis final in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Gauff taking a lot of positives from her performance in Madrid despite loss to Sabalenka in final
MADRID (AP) 鈥 Coco Gauff got past the disappointment of losing the Madrid Open final to Aryna Sabalenka and was celebrating a solid week that will make her the top-ranked American woman on Monday.
United States’ Coco Gauff returns to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the Madrid Open tennis final in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
MADRID (AP) 鈥 Coco Gauff got past the disappointment of losing the Madrid Open final to Aryna Sabalenka and was celebrating a solid week that will make her the top-ranked American woman on Monday.
The 21-year-old Gauff is set to reach No. 3 in the world, moving past countrywoman Jessica Pegula.
“Overall there’s a lot of positives to take,” Gauff said. 鈥淥bviously disappointed with maybe how I played (in the final). I feel like I could have showed up better. But I went from an 0-6 set in the first round and made it to the final, so happy with that. Obviously hoping for more next time.”
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Gauff lost in straight sets 鈥 6-3, 7-6 (3) 鈥 to the top-ranked Sabalenka on Saturday. She had started her campaign by rallying to a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Dayana Yastremska, then picked up straight-set wins over Ann Li, Belinda Bencic, Mirra Andreeva and second-ranked Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Gauff overpowered Swiatek in a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory.
“Speaking on the week as a whole, on the ground I think today was like the only day where I felt really tested, and obviously in my first round, too,” Gauff said after the final. “So there鈥檚 a lot of positives to take, and I think especially coming maybe from the last few weeks where I didn鈥檛 feel as confident on the ground, I think it is a step in the right direction, and just trying to look at the positives of it all. I don鈥檛 like losing, first final loss since the French Open, so it鈥檚 a feeling that I know I don鈥檛 like.”
It was only the second loss in a WTA tour final for Gauff, with the other coming against Swiatek at the 2022 French Open.
“I hate losing a lot, and especially in finals, because it鈥檚 like you鈥檙e so close,” Gauff said. 鈥淏ut obviously if I can lose this and go a few more finals undefeated I鈥檒l take that. Each time it鈥檚 a learning experience, and maybe I needed to feel this loss again to be motivated again, even more motivated for the next one.鈥
The 2023 U.S. Open champion squandered a set point at 5-4 in the second set in the final against Sabalenka in Madrid. She lost 17 points in a row at one stage in the first set on the Caja Magica center court. Gauff had four more winners than Sabalenka, but also seven more unforced errors.
鈥淢y first serve has been such a weapon this week, so just wish I could have served better (in the final),鈥 Gauff said.
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