Iga Swiatek produced a stunning fightback to battle past Aryna Sabalenka and win the Madrid Open title after a high-quality final which lasted more than three hours.

The world No 1 had taken the opening set before Sabalenka, looking to retain her title at Manolo Santana Stadium, regained momentum to level and then forged 3-1 ahead in the decider.

Swiatek, though, showed all of her experience to mount a recovery and save three match points before coming through a tense tiebreak to complete a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) victory.

World No 2 Sabalenka had two championship points when leading 6-5 at the end of the deciding set but was unable to convert either as Swiatek again dug in to find a winning return at the crucial moment.

The first six points of the tiebreak stayed on serve before a booming forehand from Sabalenka brought up a mini break, but Swiatek immediately recovered again.

#1GA ➡️🏆🇪🇸@iga_swiatek secures her 20th career title on the Hologic WTA Tour!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/jZMjXVjE0V

— wta (@WTA) May 4, 2024

With the scores locked again at 5-5, Sabalenka sent a return long to give Swiatek a mini-break and her first championship point of the match only for the Belarussian to produce an ace.

Swiatek was then left serving to save the match after another over-hit forehand, but again Sabalenka could not make the most of her chance, with two long returns swinging momentum back to the world number one.

Sabalenka, 25, lashed over another backhand, which dropped just out of the court as Swiatek completed a remarkable recovery.

Swiatek had lost only one set across her five wins in Madrid on the way to setting up a repeat of last year’s final, which Sabalenka had won in three sets.

The 22-year-old Pole, already a three-time champion at Roland Garros, has now secured the one big European clay tournament which had eluded her.

“It is always a challenge playing against you Aryna, so thanks for motivating me and forcing me to be a better player,” Swiatek said on court after winning her 20th career title.

“Thanks to my team for sticking with me through ups and downs. I hope we are going to continue progressing.”

🧡🧡🧡 G R A C I A S 🧡🧡🧡@iga_swiatek | @SabalenkaA | @WTA | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/dKmyzDDcBH

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 4, 2024

Sabalenka paid tribute to Swiatek’s efforts.

“Congrats on another great tournament Iga, you are doing an incredible job and hopefully next year it (title) goes to me,” Sabalenka said during the presentation ceremony, broadcast on Sky Sports.

“It was a great match and a long one, hopefully we will recover well for the next tournament.”

Andy Murray has labelled tennis star Liam Broady a ‘spanner’ during the pair’s latest social media spat.

The duo are no strangers to an online disagreement, with Murray and Broady having locked horns online several times before

Their latest exchange focused on a post sent by Broady about a child playing on their tablet during a flight.

Broady said on X: “There’s a kid on this flight with an iPad, watching a tv show in the top left corner of the screen with subtitles on.

“All whilst playing a video game on the full screen. Is this me getting old thinking that’s unhealthy for their brain?”

Murray, sensing an opportunity to get one over on Broady, replied: “I remember once seeing this kid playing a computer game in the lobby of a hotel in Antwerp on his laptop, headphones on with microphone attached.”

Before finishing off with a subtle dig aimed Broady’s way: “Speaking to his friends whilst using WhatsApp with his free hand. His name was Liam broady and look how he turned out… Spanner.”

Broady did appear to take it in good humour though, responding: “Guilty as charged,” accompanied by a tongue-sticking-out emoji for good measure.

It comes after Broady claimed Murray has ‘five people to wipe your bum’ earlier in the year.

This time the pair were arguing over the breakfast options at the Atlanta Open, with Broady posting: “First match at 10am today so have to warm up at 8:30. Breakfast doesn’t open till 9am? Walked into player area and we’ve got… bagels. Really good for a high standard of tennis and tennis tournament in Atlanta.”

Murray, unimpressed by Broady’s criticisms, replied: “Hope you are okay mate. That sounds terrible. Surprised you hadn’t checked the breakfast situation ahead of time like most professionals would have done.”

The online duel continued, with Broady claiming: “You have five people just to wipe your bum for you man. You’ve never checked a situation ahead of time in your life, we are not the same.”

Murray’s next response was short and sweet, with the three-time Grand Slam winner issuing a simple fishing rod emoji – a suggestion Broady had fallen for his bait.

 

King Charles celebrated his 75th birthday a day early on Monday (13 November) when he was presented with a three-tiered cake at a party staged in his honour.

Charles joined a host of people, from community stalwarts nominated by friends and family who are also turning 75 this year, to representatives from organisations marking the same milestone, from the NHS to members of the Windrush generation.

Among the famous faces at the event in the grounds of the King’s Highgrove home in Gloucestershire were

celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, The Repair Shop host Jay Blades, and singer Leee John from the 1980s group Imagination.