Leading up to the final, Ruud faced a number of challenges. He was coming off a difficult injury, and just weeks later, he lifted the biggest trophy of his career. His path to the title wasn’t easy, he had to take down top-tier opponents including Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Sebastian Korda to secure his spot in the final.

In a hard-fought match, Ruud triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to claim his first Masters 1000 crown. Entering the tournament ranked No. 14 in the world, he’s now poised for a significant boost in the ATP rankings. The final was a battle from start to finish against Draper, but Ruud held his nerve and now sets his sights on his next challenge: the 2025 Italian Open in Rome.

Fueled by the momentum of his Madrid victory, Ruud heads to Rome with confidence and high expectations. The tournament kicks off this week, and following his performance in Spain, he could emerge as a serious contender. His title in Madrid also marked a historic milestone, no other player from Norway has achieved a feat like this on the ATP Tour.

Ruud makes history with first Masters 1000 title

Ruud etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Norwegian player to win an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, defeating Draper in the final of the Madrid Open. The victory marks a major milestone in Ruud’s career and could serve as a crucial confidence boost as he prepares for upcoming challenges on the ATP Tour.

With this triumph, Ruud has cemented his status as a serious contender on the men’s circuit. His peers now view him as a formidable opponent in every tournament. Next up is the Rome Masters, where the newly crowned champion will aim to keep his momentum going as competitors look to deny him back-to-back titles.

Casper Ruud’s career stats

While the Madrid title is Ruud’s first at the Masters 1000 level, his résumé already includes an impressive collection of accomplishments. He has reached multiple finals on the biggest stages and consistently performed among the sport’s elite. Here’s a breakdown of his career highlights so far:

• Career titles: 13 (including his first Masters 1000 title at Madrid Open 2025)
• Career finals record: 13 wins – 12 losses
• Masters 1000 Finals: 1 win – 2 losses (Champion in Madrid 2025; Runner-up in Miami 2022 and Monte Carlo 2024)
• Grand Slam Finals: 0 wins – 3 losses (Runner-up at French Open 2022, US Open 2022, and French Open 2023)
• ATP Finals: 0 wins – 1 loss (Runner-up in 2022)

Gauff eliminated the defending champion Swiatek in stunning fashion, winning 6-1, 6-1. It was a statement win that highlighted her growing dominance on clay as she chases her first career title at the Madrid Open. A victory would mark her 19th career title overall and her 10th in singles.

Her road to the final was anything but easy. Gauff had to overcome world No. 7 Mirra Andreeva in a hard-fought quarterfinal match, proving she is in top form heading into the championship clash. She will now face Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No. 1, in what promises to be a blockbuster final.

Gauff’s milestone after beating Swiatek

At just 21 years and 39 days old, Gauff has become the third-youngest player to reach WTA 1000 finals on both clay and hard courts since the format’s revamp in 2009. Only Caroline Wozniacki and Iga Swiatek achieved the feat at a younger age.

This sets the stage for an epic showdown against Sabalenka, a rivalry that has seen Gauff win five of their nine previous meetings. Their head-to-head history gives the American a slight edge going into the final.

Adding fuel to Gauff’s momentum is their most recent final clash, the 2023 US Open, where she came from behind to beat Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and lift her first Grand Slam title. That win could provide a psychological edge as they meet again with another major trophy on the line.

Sabalenka eyes another title

Sabalenka, playing in her third consecutive final, is aiming to capture her third WTA title of 2025. She last triumphed at the Miami Open in March but enters the Madrid final with a 2-3 record in championship matches this season.

With both players in top form and history on the line, fans can expect a thrilling Madrid Open final on Saturday. It will be the tenth meeting between Gauff and Sabalenka, and once again, the stakes couldn’t be higher with a WTA 1000 title at play.

Amid widespread power outages in Spain and two other European countries, citizens are now waiting to see how the situation unfolds domestically. In Madrid, energy services have been disrupted, and authorities are working urgently to restore power across the city.

Against this backdrop, the Madrid Open has announced updates regarding Monday’s matches. Grigor Dimitrov was close to securing a victory when play was suspended during the final set. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who were scheduled to compete Monday, must now wait for the tournament organizers to finalize a plan to resume play.

According to the tournament’s official social media accounts, Monday’s sessions have been suspended, with further updates expected throughout the day. “For reasons beyond the control of the organization and in order to guarantee general safety, the nationwide power cut experienced in Spain on Monday, 28 April, has forced the cancellation of both the day and night sessions at the Mutua Madrid Open,” organizers wrote.

Madrid Open suspends matches

The last match completed at the Madrid Open featured Dimitrov defeating Jacob Fearnley. Following that, several Round of 32 matches were scheduled, including Tsitsipas vs. Lorenzo Musetti, set for 12 p.m. ET.

Sabalenka was also scheduled to face Peyton Stearns in a Round of 16 matchup at 12 p.m. ET, while Iga Swiatek was set to take on Diana Shnaider earlier this morning before the disruption occurred. With multiple matches now suspended, tournament officials must seek alternatives to reschedule, as the outage impacted much of the country.

Dimitrov was leading 1-0 and playing the final point of the match when the incident occurred. The Bulgarian, showcasing some of his best tennis in Madrid, appeared poised to continue his resurgence on the ATP Tour and secure a place in the fourth round.

Coming off a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the second round, Dimitrov looked sharp and ready for the next challenge against the British player. However, the unforeseen disruption in Madrid has now thrown his tournament hopes into uncertainty.

What happened at the Madrid Open?

Dimitrov was on the verge of closing out the final set when a major power outage struck Madrid, forcing tournament organizers to suspend play. Several other matches were also halted due to the disruption, with officials closely monitoring the situation before making further decisions.

Reports indicated that the blackout extended beyond Madrid, affecting parts of Spain, Portugal, and France. With power still not fully restored three hours later, organizers have yet to confirm when play will resume. If the situation persists, the tournament may need to explore alternative plans to complete the remaining matches.

Why was Dimitrov’s match suspended?

Many fans questioned why the match between Dimitrov and Fearnley couldn’t continue, especially since the stadium is open-air and daylight was still available. Some argued that with line judges present, play could have resumed without issue.

However, the suspension was due to a critical camera obstructing the players’ line of sight, making it impossible to continue under official rules. As of now, Madrid Open officials have not issued an update regarding the status of Dimitrov’s match or the other fixtures scheduled for Monday.

Swiatek dropped the opening set 4-6, showing signs of struggle against the aggressive play of the 18-year-old from the Philippines. But the Polish star quickly turned things around, responding with a 6-4, 6-2 surge that highlighted her championship mindset and resilience.

The victory was more than just a first-round escape. It marked a measure of revenge for Swiatek, who had suffered a surprising loss to Eala last month at the Miami Open. This time, she took control when it mattered most—and in doing so, surpassed a record held by none other than Serena Williams.

With the win, Swiatek now holds an 87.5% winning percentage at the Madrid Open, the highest in tournament history. Williams previously held the benchmark, but Swiatek’s consistency and dominance on clay continue to raise the bar.

Swiatek reacts after victory over Eala at Madrid Open

After an early exit at the Miami Open last month, Swiatek bounced back in dominant fashion, advancing past rising star Eala at the Madrid Open. The Polish world No. 1 looked focused and determined, delivering a convincing performance as she eyes another deep run in Spain.

“We always play amazing matches, so hopefully this one was also enjoyable and good entertainment,” Swiatek said following the win. With her sights set on defending her title, she acknowledged the importance of starting strong in Madrid.

Swiatek set to face Noskova

Swiatek’s next challenge comes in the second round against Czech teenager Linda Noskova. While the official date and time of the match are yet to be confirmed, the showdown promises high-quality tennis as both players continue their 2025 campaigns in the WTA tournament. “I’m just going to focus on my performance,” Swiatek told reporters. “Linda’s a great player and I have huge respect for her, so we’ll see.”

The tennis world is eager to see this thrilling final between two outstandingplayers, who head to the defining match in great form. The current world’s No.1 made her way in great fashion as she upset Paula Baldosa in the semifinals, while the Belarusian, who seems to be the challenger, has had a perfectweek winning every game in straight sets.

Barty lands to this duel with an impressive winning record under her belt, being unstoppable in clay court. However, the 23-year-old will try to defy her dominance and prove to be a potential Grand Slam contender. The Madrid Open title is up for grabs and these two will deservedly be in the grand final clashing for it. Will Sabalenka shock the current best in the world or is the Australian proving her force once again?

Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka: Match Information

Date: Saturday, May 8, 2021
Time: 12:30 PM (ET)
Location: Estadio Manolo Santana, Madrid

Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka: Time by State in the US

ET: 12:30 PM
CT: 11:30 AM
MT: 10:30 AM
PT: 9:30 AM

Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka: Storylines

Ashleigh Barty heads to a new final after leaving four opponents behind, seeking her fourth title in 2021. The currentworld’s best has been dominant on clay-court, holding a fantastic 16-game winning streak, and she looks as strong as ever to go on to grab a new trophy.

On the other hand, Aryna Sabalenka has been unstoppable this week in Madrid. She reached this stage without losing a single set, which is why she looks like a true contender for the title. Besides, it will be a good opportunity for the Belarusian player to finally defeat the No. 1 of the world in 2021.

The upcoming match will be the third between them this year. These two have faced a few days ago in the WTA Stuttgart 2021 final, in which Barty came from behind to winby 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Before that, they’ve met in the Miami Open quarterfinals with the Australian also claimingthe victory by 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

How to watch or live stream Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka in the US

The WTA Madrid 2021final to be played between Ashleigh Barty and Aryna Sabalenkawill be broadcast in the US by Tennis Channel.

Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka: Predictions and Odds

Oddsmakers have already made their predictions ahead of this exciting game, and the Australian seems to be favorite. FanDuel has given Ashleigh Barty odds of -124, while Aryna Sabalenka have +106.

* Odds via FanDuel.