Aryna Sabalenka won her WTA-leading third title this year at the Madrid Open, toppling Iga Swiatek who was left unhappy about several late night finishes. Pictures: Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka has claimed some bragging rights over World No.1 Iga Swiatek, defeating the Polish superstar in the final of the Madrid Open. The showdown between the two top ranked women’s players loomed as a crucial litmus test ahead of the upcoming French Open, with Sabalenka able to get a confidence boosting 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for her second title at the event.

The Belarusian star had never managed to take a set off Swiatek in three prior meetings on clay, but was able to put those demons to bed in what was the first time the World No.1 and 2 faced off in a WTA 1000 final since Serena Williams and Li Na at the 2014 Miami Open. Remarkably, the final between the pair was just the third time in the last 40 years that the two top ranked women’s players had faced off more than once on a clay court in the same season.

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Sabalenka had been beaten by Swiatek two weeks prior on grass, in the final of the Stuttgart Open in Germany. However she ensured there would be no repeat of that result, claiming a tour-leading third title for 2023.

Women’s tennis has been crying out for a rivalry at the top of the game and this is shaping up to be a good one. They are contrasting players with very different personalities – Belarusian Sabalenka bubbly and ultra-aggressive on court, while Poland’s Swiatek is a self-declared introvert who uses her supreme athleticism to dominate.

“I am just super happy with this win, especially against Iga on clay,” Sabalenka said. “Women’s tennis needs this kind of consistency, to see the world No.1 and world No.2 facing (off) in the finals.

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“That’s something amazing, and hopefully we can keep doing what we are doing this season. It is always tough against each other and you (Swiatek) always push me to my limits. I hope we will play many more times this season.”

Swiatek was quick to congratulate her opponent but took a potshot at the scheduling Madrid Open, after four of her six matches finished past 1am local time. Tournament director Feliciano Lopez was standing right behind Swiatek when she made the comment, with fans pointing out that he clearly looked unhappy.

“It’s not fun to play at 1am though,” she said. “I’m happy anyway I was able to get past this experience and survive and be in the final.”

Sabalenka avenges Stuttgart defeat with Madrid Open triumph

Sabalenka was desperate to get revenge over Swiatek and she learned the lessons from Stuttgart with a controlled but relentlessly offensive first set. The Belarusian looked frustrated after failing to take two break points at 3-2 but did not allow her head to drop and made the breakthrough to lead 5-3 before clinching her first set on clay against the Pole.

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Swiatek responded impressively, opening up a 3-0 lead in the second set, but back came Sabalenka to level with some tremendous power tennis. However, Swiatek dug in and reeled off another three games in a row to level proceedings at the Caja Magica.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek was unhappy about having two matches at the Madrid Open finish in the early hours of the morning. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Both knew how important the start of the decider was and, with the intensity levels increasing still further, Sabalenka produced some of her best tennis of the match to move 3-0 in front. Swiatek rallied again as she looked to maintain her proud record in finals – she had won 14 of her previous 16 – but, having levelled at 3-3, she was helpless as Sabalenka broke once more to lead 5-3 before overcoming her nerves to clinch her fourth match point.

With AAP

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Former World No.3 and American tennis sensation, Sloane Stephens, makes a thrilling announcement regarding her comeback to the court after a prolonged injury break. Stephens, who has been absent from the WTA tour for over two months following her last match at the 2025 Merida Open, is eyeing a dramatic return at the 2025 French Open.

The tennis star had initially aimed to make a comeback at Indian Wells after receiving a wild card entry. Still, unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury, leaving fans eager for her return. Stephens, who suffered a foot injury at the Merida Open, was unable to defend her title at the Rouen Open, where she emerged victorious in the previous year’s final against Magda Linette.

In a surprising turn of events, Stephens appeared on The Tennis Channel for an interview alongside compatriot Ben Shelton following her successful opening round at the Munich Open. When asked about her readiness to return to competitive tennis, Stephens expressed uncertainty but hinted at a comeback at the French Open, stating, “I’ll see you soon, I’ll definitely see you at the French.”

With her ranking plummeting outside the Top 100 and absence from the women’s singles entry list for the clay court Grand Slam, Stephens is likely to rely on a wildcard entry or qualifying rounds to secure her spot at the prestigious Paris tournament. Tennis enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting Stephens’ return to the court and are hopeful to witness her remarkable performance at the 2025 French Open.

Coco Gauff is heading into Roland Garros with a sharp sense of unfinished business. “That would be a goal to win this tournament just because I did make the final. So I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business there,” she told Roland Garros in an exclusive interview on May 12. The memory of her 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek still lingers—not as a burden, but as a motivator. Gauff, now ranked World No. 2, is not just trying to prove herself as a top player on clay—she’s trying to complete a story she believes is still being written.

Her 2025 clay season has reflected that urgency. In Madrid, she fought her way to the semifinals, pushing top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka but falling in straight sets. A week later in Rome, she made a deeper run, reaching the final after surviving a scrappy, error-strewn semifinal against Zheng Qinwen. But once again, the title slipped away—this time against Jasmine Paolini, in a match where Gauff’s 55 unforced errors overshadowed her otherwise solid court coverage and athleticism.

Still, there’s no denying her trajectory on the surface. Since her French Open debut in 2020, Gauff has steadily improved: reaching the quarterfinals in 2021, the final in 2022, and now, in 2024, clinching the women’s doubles crown alongside Katerina Siniakova. Her singles game is knocking on the door—but something seems to be holding it back. It’s not just the opponents across the net. It’s also about how she plays the points she already controls. And that’s where Venus Williams steps in—not as a critic, but as someone who’s lived the grind of Grand Slam tennis for decades, and has words of wisdom to fine tune Coco.

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During TNT’s live coverage from France, tennis legend Venus Williams reflected on the unpredictable nature of clay-court tennis, sharing insights on the unique challenges players face. “The funny thing is that anything can happen out there. That’s why they play the match and especially on the clay. And we were just talking about the conditions we played under, where it would get dark. Now they have lights out here so you can keep playing until infinity, but it’s hard on the body, and the court can get heavy. All these things can happen. So you don’t know who’s going to win,” she said.

via Reuters Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 7, 2024 Coco Gauff of the U.S. reacts during her fourth round match against Emma Navarro of the U.S. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

Venus also added passionately about supporting fellow Americans on tour. “Of course. Big fan of the Americans. I always watch the Americans, always rooting for them,” she said. And let’s just say, the American contingent needs all the support they can get because it has already suffered a few upsets in France. Last year’s U.S. Open runner-up, Taylor Fritz, had to bow out of the tournament thanks to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss at the hands of world No. 66 Daniel Altmaier in the 1st round. Meanwhile, as far as WTA stars are concerned, No. 9 seed Emma Navarro couldn’t even last an hour as she was defeated by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in two sets.

However, despite all this, Williams’ love for Coco Gauff remains intact. “Coco, I’m a huge fan. I love her passion. I think sometimes, though, she’s just too hard on herself. I think she’s got to just let go and allow herself to do what she can do. She has such big expectations of herself, so I’d love to see her win here. She’s come close. I know she wants to win,” Williams added. But wait. What was Venus doing at the TNT Broadcast at Roland Garros?

Just weeks ago, Venus revealed a new chapter in her tennis career: joining TNT Sports as a commentator for the 2025 Roland Garros. Sharing the news online, the 44-year-old tweeted, “I’m excited to join @tntsports as a commentator for @rolandgarros, alongside this incredible roster of athletes! Stay tuned for our coverage to start on Sunday, May 25. #RolandGarros 🎾” The announcement, also posted to her IG Stories, thrilled fans around the world.

And now, while Venus lends her expertise from the commentary booth, Coco Gauff continues to chase her 1st French Open title, recently revealing her top five picks for the tournament, keeping fans guessing whether this could finally be her moment.

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Coco Gauff predicts the top contenders for the French Open 2025

Coco Gauff is embracing a sense of liberté ahead of her 1st match at the 2025 French Open. The 21-year-old from Delray Beach, Florida, is entering the tournament with confidence after a 2024 full of career milestones, her first WTA Finals title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, her 1st doubles Grand Slam, and the honor of carrying the US flag at the Olympics. With momentum on her side, Gauff is enjoying a relatively pressure-free return to Roland Garros.

As her clay-court campaign begins shortly, Gauff weighed in on this year’s title contenders. “Obviously, I hope I’m up there, but there’s Jasmine [Paolini], Aryna [Sabalenka], Iga [Swiatek], Qinwen [Zheng], Mirra [Andreeva], there are more I can name that all have the opportunity,” said Gauff. “Who knows, we’ve all seen things like the US Open when Emma [Raducanu] won, so literally anybody can win this tournament. I think that’s what makes women’s tennis exciting,” she later added.

Ranked as the 2nd seed, Gauff will face unseeded Australian Olivia Gadecki in the 1st round on Tuesday. The two players have never met on the WTA Tour, adding intrigue to their upcoming clash.

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As the American star steps onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, all eyes will be on whether she can continue her excellent form on clay. Will Coco start strong and build toward the title, or is there a twist waiting? Stay tuned with us for the latest update, right here!

Exciting Aryna Sabalenka Announcement Made Amid French Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Aryna Sabalenka is the top female tennis player in the world for a reason. She showed that once again during her Round of 16 match in the French Open on Sunday.

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Sabalenka dominated her match against American rising star Amanda Anisimova, winning in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. As a result, she’s now heading to the French Open quarterfinals, where she will be facing a top-10 player in China’s Zheng Qinwen.

The 27-year-old star also reached a milestone in the process, as the win allowed her to reach her 10th consecutive quarterfinals appearance in Grand Slam tournaments. The official Roland-Garros X account highlighted it on social media while hyping up Sabalenka.

“Aryna Sabalenka the tiger, Aryna Sabalenka the fighter, Aryna Sabalenka 10 quarters,” Roland-Garros wrote in the caption of its post.

According to the WTA, Aryna Sabalenka is the first player since Serena Williams to win at least 10 Round of 16 matches in a row and make it to the quarterfinals in Grand Slam events.

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Williams did it from the 2014 US Open to the 2021 Australian Open, winning 17 consecutive Round of 16 matches in the process.

It will definitely be hard to surpass what Williams did, but Sabalenka has a real shot to do so considering her current pace and dominance in women’s tennis.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka attends the MLS match between Inter Miami and Toronto FC.© Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

For now, though, Sabalenka’s focus is on winning the French Open. After all, Zheng Qinwen poses a threat to the World No. 1, as the Chinese star beat her in the Rome Open quarterfinals last month.

“It’s always tough matches against her,” Sabalenka said of Zheng, per WTA. “She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle, and I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals, and I want to get my revenge. I want to get this win after Rome, so I’m happy to face her in the quarters.”

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Related: Roland-Garros Makes Historic Announcement on Tuesday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.

French Open Takes a Stand Against Misbehaving Fans: Alcohol Ban Announced

In a bold move to combat unruly behavior from spectators, French Open organizers have declared a ban on alcohol consumption in the stands for this year’s tournament. This decision comes in response to a series of disturbing incidents involving fans at recent events, signaling a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive conduct.

Last year, the tournament faced backlash when a supporter allegedly spat chewing gum at player David Goffin during a match, leading to a mid-event prohibition on alcohol sales. The Serb tennis star Novak Djokovic, known for his vocal criticism of the Roland Garros crowd, has expressed relief at the new ruling, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a respectful atmosphere for players.

With players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka speaking out against disruptive fans, the French Open is cracking down on misconduct. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo has made it clear that any fans engaging in inappropriate behavior will be promptly ejected from the premises, underscoring the need for a positive and respectful environment for all attendees.

As the defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz gears up for the upcoming tournament, officials are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for players and fans alike. The enforcement of the alcohol ban is just one of the many steps being taken to uphold the integrity of the prestigious event.

Former French Open champion Mats Wilander highlighted the shift in fan behavior post-pandemic, attributing it to heightened emotions and a desire for self-expression. The evolving landscape of sports spectatorship demands a more disciplined and decorous approach from attendees, which the French Open is determined to enforce rigorously.

As the tennis world braces for the excitement and drama of the French Open, the strict measures implemented by organizers promise a tournament free from disruptions and disturbances, elevating the sporting experience for all involved.