Spectacular Iga Swiatek v Aryna Sabalenka Madrid Open clash voted WTA Match of the Year

The 2023 WTA season produced several surprises and thrilling matches, but the clash between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open final beat out other entrants to win the WTA Match of the Year.

Sabalenka was coming in off her maiden Grand Slam victory at the 2023 Australian Open, and many fans were hoping she would break Swiatek's stranglehold as the top dog on tour. However, the Polish star's dominance on clay was a sight to behold, and Swiatek seemed set to reaffirm her position as the best player in the world.

In an encounter that saw both players leave it all on the court, Sabalenka stunned the top-seeded Swiatek to triumph with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory. The Belarusian had not dropped a set the entire tournament, and seemed focused on reaching the title as she progressed through the tournament. Conversely, Swiatek had also looked dominant during the event, dropping only one set en route to her final clash with Sabalenka.

Nonetheless, it was Sabalenka who emerged victorious after their lengthy encounter. The Australian Open champion resisted a Swiatek comeback in the final set, proving to the rest of the field that her title win in Melbourne was not a fluke. Furthermore, she showed the tennis community that Swiatek could indeed be defeated on clay, the Pole's favorite surface.