Aryna Sabalenka vs. Iga Swiatek: The Story So Far

Valeria Savalyka is competing as the top seed in Guadalajara against another top ten opponent this should be fun but she is the highest-ranked player therefore top seed and with that those lofty heights come significant pressure. It's a victory that will take Sviontec into the last four and she continues to impress this year. Really good final in prospects a full house great to see. What a measured two-hander that was. Successive title for Iga Sviontec. The pole overcomes Irina Savalyka. Congrats on the amazing season so far. Irina it's always super tough playing against you hopefully many more to come. But it's been business as usual of late for Iga Sviontec. She arrives at match point oh so close to her fourth WTA 1000 final of the year. Saves a match point to get the deuce. Match point number three for the world number one. Simply staggering stuff in another superlative Sviontec effort. As the world number one dominates Irina Savalyka once more. None better than Iga Sviontec the world number one as she takes on Irina Savalyka a former world number two in her own right trying to do the unthinkable. And that is topple the pole in the 2022 season. She's been virtually unbeatable. Ace number 12. Irina Savalyka pulls up a triumphant effort and upsets the world number one in Fort Worth. Oh that's a beauty. Oh what defense from Iga Sviontec there. Iga Sviontec stands firm in Stuttgart to defend her title. I'm really happy that we are so consistent and we can play so many amazing matches together because I think fans are enjoying it. They are the two Iga Sviontec, Irina Savalyka. They are starting to heat up a rivalry that may permeate the remainder of this season. What more could you want? And she's going to continue to try to blast her way through the court. Great reactions on the backhand volley. Irina Savalyka topples world number one Iga Sviontec to reign supreme once again in Madrid. I hope we're going to keep playing many more times this season. Iga Sviontec with what has been an hour and 36 minutes of just sublime tennis gets herself to match point. As the world number two downs the world number one to make our first ever WTA finals final. Iga Sviontec take a bow. Because for the second straight year Sviontec versus Savalyka, not just a match, a rematch. And the world number one fired up. Oh no, Savalyna heartbreak. And now the question asked of Savalyka. 15 minutes after she first held championship point, it's Iga Sviontec's turn. And Iga Sviontec conquers Madrid, adding the missing piece to her brilliant clay court resume. Hopefully next year it goes to me. Yeah, I agree on that one. I mean, too many more finals, always, you know, a challenge playing against you. So thanks for also motivating me and forcing me to be a better player. We'll see if this starts the fireworks. Of course she's going to get to that ball. That's magnificent. And the best remains so in Rome. As Iga Sviontec bests the field and reigns supreme as champion of the Italian Open. I hope we're going to make it to the final at the Roland Garros and I'm going to get you there. Another final, another, you know, great battle. After Madrid, I knew it's not going to be easy. It can go, you know, always both ways. So thanks for sharing the court with me and really, you know, pushing me to get better. What a performance from the third seed, taking out the world number one here. It would seem at match point the first time. Will the one be enough? Not done yet. Match point number four. First serve there. On it goes. A sixth match point for the third seed. A seventh opportunity to close the deal. She had a little smile there, a hint of one, didn't she? Just, you know, staying relaxed. Focus on this, see what she can do. Match point down again. Clinging on by her fingertips, Sviontec. A quick word with herself before her ninth match point. She could use one big serve to finish it. What a point from Iga Sviontec. Victory at last for Sabalenka. Finding her way to her first final in Cincinnati with her first ever straight six win against her great rival. Well, it got very tricky towards the end there. But at the tenth time of asking, she secures it on that match point.