PREVIEW | WTA Madrid Open 2025 – Semifinals: Sabalenka and Swiatek aim for third consecutive final
WTA
The semifinals of the WTA 1000 Madrid Open are set, with the possibility of a third consecutive final between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. This time, Elina Svitolina and Coco Gauff will be the ones trying to surprise the two most consistent players in Madrid in recent years.
Can Sabalenka stop Svitolina's momentum to reach another Madrid Final?
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka shows no signs of slowing down and is once again among the best. She reached the final in 5 of the 7 previous tournaments she played this year (three titles), and in Madrid, she is just one win away from another final. Last week, she was surprisingly defeated in the title match by Jelena Ostapenko, but she quickly overcame the loss to achieve a deep run in Madrid. In the quarterfinals, she survived a resilient Marta Kostyuk, saving several set points against her and winning in two tight tie-breaks (7-6[4], 7-6[7]).
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Three of the four top seeds are among the four semifinalists, with the only exception being the 17th seed Elina Svitolina, who is making her first appearance at this stage in Madrid and has reached at least the semifinals in 9 of the 10 WTA 1000 events on the Tour throughout the year.
The Ukrainian won the WTA 250 Rouen Open last week – her 22nd professional title – and this week she doesn't seem to be slowing down, totaling 9 consecutive wins in the clay swing, and defeating opponents like Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari in Madrid. Furthermore, Svitolina has won all 18 sets she has played on clay this season and has a 22-6 record so far this year (79%).
Svitolina has 7 titles on clay courts so far, the last of them two weeks ago at the Rouen Open
The head-to-head record is currently favorable for Sabalenka at 4-1, with Svitolina's only victory coming back in the 2020 Strasbourg Open, more than 5 years ago. Their last encounter was at the Cincinnati Open 2024, with a 7-5, 6-2 victory for the world No. 1 en route to the title.
The world No. 1 is once again the favorite against Svitolina. Against fellow Ukrainian Kostyuk, she showed the ability to recover from breaks against her and come through in critical points throughout the match. However, Svitolina is in a moment of inspiration, having already secured two top-5 victories this season, and she has always looked comfortable on clay courts, with two titles at the Rome Open.
Match Info:
Aryna Sabalenka - Elina Svitolina
Start time (local): Thu, 1 May, 9:30 PM
Start time (your time): Fri, 2 May, 3:30 AM
Court: Manolo Santana Stadium
Tournament: Mutua Madrid Open
Round: Semifinal
Head-to-Head
| Sabalenka | Svitolina | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 4 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 3 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 1 | 17 |
| Race Ranking | 1 | 16 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 1 | 14 (+3) |
| Live Race Ranking | 1 | 7 (+9) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 26 (5 May 1998) | 30 (12 Sep 1994) |
| Birthplace | Minsk, Belarus | Odesa, Ukraine |
| Residence | Miami, Florida, US | London, England,Odesa, Ukraine |
| Height | 5'11" (182cm) | 5'8" (174cm) |
| Weight | 176lbs (80kg) | 132lbs (60kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2015 | 2010 |
| Coach | Anton Dubrov | Raemon Sluiter (2023–present) |
| YTD W/L | 27-5 (84%) | 22-6 (79%) |
| YTD Titles | 2 | 1 |
| Career Titles | 19 | 18 |
| Prize Money | US$33,287,633 - 9th in all-time rankings | US$ 25,082,844 - 14th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Sabalenka d E Svitolina WTA Cincinnati - Round of 167-5 | 6-2 16 Aug 2024 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Svitolina WTA Rome - Round of 164-6 | 6-1 | 7-6 13 May 2024 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Svitolina French Open - Quarterfinal6-4 | 6-4 6 Jun 2023 |
||
|
E Svitolina d A Sabalenka WTA Strasbourg - Semifinal6-2 | 4-6 | 6-4 25 Sep 2020 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Svitolina WTA Wuhan - Round of 326-4 | 2-6 | 6-1 25 Sep 2018 |
||
Uphill battle for Gauff: Aims to conquer negative record against Swiatek
The bottom half of the draw had no surprises, with Mirra Andreeva (7th) and Madison Keys (5th) living up to their favoritism until that round. However, Gauff and Swiatek were the ones who showed them the exit door, guaranteeing a clash between the second and fourth seeds.
Swiatek overcame a tough start against Keys and ended up with an important victory for her morale, winning 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 to record her 9th consecutive win and 15th in her last 16 matches, with the only exception being against Sabalenka in 2023.
The Pole is recognized as the "Queen of Clay," and despite falling short of titles in recent months this season, Madrid seems like an ideal stage to get her season back on track. The world No. 2 comes from a semifinal defeat in Stuttgart against Jelena Ostapenko, against whom she now has a negative 0-6 record, although this was their first meeting on clay.
She will face a tenacious Coco Gauff, who secured a notable victory against Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1, winning 9 of the last 10 games played. The American also secured a climb to world No. 3, although she could continue to rise in the ranking, potentially displacing Swiatek from the second position after more than three years in the top two if she lifts the title.
This is the 9th time Gauff has reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event, although she has only advanced to the final twice (winning both titles). Facing Swiatek is never easy for the 21-year-old star, who has a disappointing 3-10 record against the Pole (0-5 on clay courts). However, she has managed to close the gap, with victories in their last two encounters.
Match Info:
Coco Gauff - Iga Swiatek
Start time (local): Thu, 1 May, 4:00 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 1 May, 10:00 PM
Court: Manolo Santana Stadium
Tournament: Mutua Madrid Open
Round: Semifinal
Head-to-Head
| Gauff | Swiatek | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 3 | 11 |
| Win Streak | 2 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 4 | 2 |
| Race Ranking | 12 | 4 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 3 (+1) | 2 |
| Live Race Ranking | 6 (+6) | 4 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 21 (13 Mar 2004) | 23 (31 May 2001) |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, US | Warsaw, Poland |
| Residence | Delray Beach, Florida, US | Raszyn, Poland |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | 5'9" (176cm) |
| Weight | 121lbs (55kg) | 143lbs (65kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 | 2016 |
| Coach | Matt Daly (2024–) | Wim Fissette (October 2024 – present) |
| YTD W/L | 16-6 (73%) | 25-7 (78%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 9 | 22 |
| Prize Money | US$23,153,989 - 19th in all-time rankings | US $34,842,891 - 8th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Gauff d I Swiatek United Cup - Final6-4 | 6-4 5 Jan 2025 |
||
|
C Gauff d I Swiatek WTA Finals -6-3 | 6-4 5 Nov 2024 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff French Open - Semifinal6-2 | 6-4 6 Jun 2024 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Rome - Semifinal6-4 | 6-3 16 May 2024 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Finals -6-0 | 7-5 1 Nov 2023 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Beijing - Semifinal6-2 | 6-3 7 Oct 2023 |
||
|
C Gauff d I Swiatek WTA Cincinnati - Semifinal7-6 | 3-6 | 6-4 19 Aug 2023 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff French Open - Quarterfinal6-4 | 6-2 7 Jun 2023 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Dubai - Semifinal6-4 | 6-2 24 Feb 2023 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Finals -6-3 | 6-0 6 Nov 2022 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff San Diego - Quarterfinal6-0 | 6-3 15 Oct 2022 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff French Open - Final6-1 | 6-3 4 Jun 2022 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Miami - Round of 166-3 | 6-1 28 Mar 2022 |
||
|
I Swiatek d C Gauff WTA Rome - Semifinal7-6 | 6-3 15 May 2021 |
||
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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