#Sw1atek v 2abalenka

[benjaminsblog]

WTA Tennis, Madrid (parte tres)

The rest of the tournament progressed quickly and calmly, with some fitting finales at the end of the week: the world’s top two singles players Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka squared off in a rematch of last year’s final, and they served up a 3-hour classic that was tight and tense throughout, and the multiple momentum changes had you guessing right until the end. A final-set tie break was needed to split them, but they couldn’t have come much closer to the match ending in a draw; both players saw championship points come and go, before Sabalenka sent one final forehand long, causing Swiatek to crumple to the floor in what I imagine was a heady combination of exhaustion and ecstasy.

The only blemish on an otherwise superb final was that whoever had their finger hovering over the "activate streamer cannons" button was seemingly caught napping on the job, so by the time they'd activated them, it came as quite the surprise to everyone, especially poor Iga!

The doubles final – whilst poorly attended – saw a Spanish duo lift the crown; Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo claimed an unexpected win over their more illustrious opponents Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund. It was done in emphatic style – they only gave up two games as my last match of the tournament came and went in the blink of an eye! I certainly wasn’t complaining – I dealt with the de-rig in an equally efficient manner, and managed to leave the venue while there was still some daylight in the sky – ¡me gusta!