Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Rome riding the momentum of a dominant title run at the Madrid Open, and with history within reach. The Belarusian star is aiming to become only the fourth woman in WTA history to win both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open in the same season, joining Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek.
The most recent player to accomplish the feat was Iga Swiatek, who in 2024 claimed her first title in Madrid and followed it up with a third crown in Rome. The world No. 1 at the time, Swiatek did not drop a set in the Italian capital, defeating a series of top players including Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, and Sabalenka herself.
Before Swiatek, the last player to complete the clay double was Serena Williams in 2013. The American icon successfully defended her Madrid title and went on to lift the trophy in Rome just a week later, adding another highlight to her storied career.
Dinara Safina was the first woman to win both tournaments in the same year. In 2009, she captured the Italian Open title before winning the inaugural WTA edition of the Madrid Open. Then ranked world No. 1, Safina defeated a strong lineup that included Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki during her impressive two-week run.
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her Madrid Open win (Getty Images)
Having secured her third Madrid Open title with a straight-sets win over Coco Gauff, the Sabalenka has shown she can dominate on clay. A title in Rome would not only earn her a prestigious double, but also cement her as one of the top contenders heading into Roland Garros.
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Sabalenkaās 2025 season so far
Aryna Sabalenka has delivered one of her most consistent seasons to date in 2025, winning titles in Brisbane, Miami, and most recently in Madrid. She also reached finals in Indian Wells and Stuttgart, while making another deep run at the Australian Open, where she was runner-up to Madison Keys.
Through clay and hard courts, Sabalenka has recorded wins over top-ranked opponents including Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Keys. With multiple titles and five finals under her belt this year, she remains one of the most in-form players on the WTA Tour.
