Sabalenka to Gauff during her speech in Madrid: "I’m sure we’ll face each other in more finals, and I hope I win them all."

Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third Madrid title this Saturday, after victories in 2021 and 2023. The Belarusian and world No. 1 defeated Coco Gauff in the final, who was playing her very first final in the Spanish tournament.

During the trophy ceremony, Sabalenka made sure to congratulate Gauff for her performance throughout the tournament:

"First, I’d like to congratulate Coco and her team for an incredible two weeks. I’m really happy to see you in a final again, playing at this level. I’m sure we’ll face each other in more finals, and I hope I win them all (laughs).

But I love playing against you—you’re always such a fighter. Thank you for this final. [...]

Thank you to the sponsors and everyone who made this tournament possible. Thank you to Feliciano (Lopez, tournament director). It’s always amazing to come back here—I love this place. I’m always excited to play in front of this crowd. Thank you all for your support.

Thank you to my team. We’re a family, we work hard, and we’ve been through tough times. I love you—only sometimes (laughs). Thank you for everything."