Chapter 34
MUTUA MADRID OPEN
Freeman Outlasts Azarenka in Tiebreak Thriller to Secure Madrid Crown
New York Times Sports
MADRID, SPAIN
Belén Freeman, the 18-year-old rising star from the U.S., claimed her first career WTA 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open with a gritty 7–6(3), 6–4 win over Victoria Azarenka on Sunday.
The match opened with a dramatic first set, culminating in a high-stakes tiebreak where Freeman’s nerves proved unshakable.
“Tiebreaks are chaos,” she said after the match. “You win the first six games, they win the next six, and then it turns into a race to 7 by twos. One bad serve and the set’s gone. But if you lock in? It’s the fastest way to break someone’s soul.”
Break it, she did.
Freeman followed up her electric tiebreak performance by closing the second set 6–4, showcasing a fearless return game and that signature down-the-line forehand that’s become her trademark.
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Prize Money: €620,000
Ranking Points Earned: 1000