Sabalenka Reaches Madrid Final, Seeks Revenge For Stuggart Loss

World number two Aryna Sabalenka is through to the final of the Madrid Open after sweeping aside Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Thursday.

The Belarusian won the Greek 6-4 6-1 to reach her fifth final of the season and second Madrid final.

Sabalenka now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between world number one Iga Swiatek and Veronika Kudermetova, though she is anticipating a final on Saturday against Swiatek to avenge her loss in Stuggart.

"I want to play Swiatek. It's always great battles with her, tough matches and I like to be in a battle," the Australian Open champion told Prime Video afterwards.

"And I want to get this revenge (for her recent final loss to the Pole in Stuttgart).

"It's just a magical season so far, and hopefully I can keep going this way.

"I think one of the keys for today's match was my mental preparation.

5th final in 2023 for Sabalenka! ?

Like in Indian Wells, the World No.2 dominates Maria Sakkari in Madrid semi-final 6-4 6-1 to claim her 5th final of the year in Madrid

Solid! pic.twitter.com/aR0Q0ZNd50

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) May 4, 2023

"I knew that she [Sakkari] was going to fight for every point and I knew that it was going to be tough.

"Every time she was making these crazy shots I was telling myself 'that's ok, it's semi-finals, it should be like that, just keep fighting'.

"[For now] I'm going to focus on the final, and after the final I'm going to celebrate my birthday [which falls on May 5], and hopefully something else."