Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

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Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

2024-05-05 05:07 Last Updated At：05:10

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.

The top-ranked Swiatek beat No. 2 Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) for her third title of the season. The 22-year-old Polish player became the youngest player to reach 20 titles since Caroline Wozniacki in 2012.

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Poland's Iga Swiatek serves the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates a winning point as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves a ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus holds her trophy after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Winner Poland's Iga Swiatek, right, holds the trophy flanked by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek kisses the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates a winning point as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves a ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus holds her trophy after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Winner Poland's Iga Swiatek, right, holds the trophy flanked by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek kisses the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Swiatek faced two match points when she was struggling with her serve at 5-6 in the third set. But she held on to force the tiebreaker, where she saved a third match point.

Swiatek collapsed on the red clay after Sabalenka hit long to end a match that lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes, the longest WTA final so far in 2024. Each player broke serve five times.

“Who is going to say that women’s tennis is boring now?” Swiatek said. “Congrats as well to Aryna because we both had an amazing effort today.”

Swiatek will seek her fourth French Open title later this month as the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros.

Swiatek improved her head-to-head record with Sabalenka to 7-3. She has won her last seven finals, since her loss to Sabalenka here in 2023.

Sabalenka got the better of Swiatek last year at Madrid in three sets for the first win over her rival on clay. The two-time Australian Open champion was seeking a record-tying third title in Madrid.

Madrid was the only European clay-court tournament at the WTA 500 level or above that Swiatek had yet to win. Now her collection is complete.

On Sunday, Andrey Rublev plays Felix Auger-Aliassime in the men's final.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Climate activists glue themselves at Munich airport to protest pollution caused by flying

2024-05-18 18:15 Last Updated At：18:21

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities closed down Munich airport temporarily on Saturday after six climate activists broke through a security fence and glued themselves to access routes leading to runways, officials and local media reported.

The activists from the group Last Generation were protesting flying, the most polluting form of transportation, said the German news agency dpa.

Police have detained the six.

Incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports, an airport spokesperson said. After a couple of hours, the airport's two runways were reopened though some disruptions to flight schedules may happen, a statement on the airport’s official website said.

Last Generation posted on social media platform X, accusing the German government of “downplaying” the negative effects of flying on the environment instead of “finally acting sincerely.”

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser slammed the protests and called for them to stop. “Such criminal actions threaten air traffic and harm climate protection because they only cause lack of understanding and anger,” she wrote on X.

Fraser also applauded police efforts to bring order back to the airport and called for airport safety measures to be checked.

The general manager of the German Airports Association Ralph Beisel sharply criticized the climate activists’ actions.

“Trespassing the aviation security area is no trivial offense. Over hundreds of thousands of passengers were prevented from a relaxed and punctual start to their Pentecost holiday,” he told dpa.

Beisel also called for harsher penalties for activists who break into airports.

Climate activities blocked flights at Hamburg and Duesseldorf airports for several hours in July.

In January, Last Generation — known for gluing themselves to streets to block traffic which has infuriated many Germans — said it would abandon the tactic and move on to holding what it calls “disobedient assemblies.” Their actions have been widely criticized, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz described them as “completely nutty.”

Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates a winning point as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves a ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus holds her trophy after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Winner Poland's Iga Swiatek, right, holds the trophy flanked by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek kisses the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates a winning point as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves a ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus holds her trophy after loosing against Poland's Iga Swiatek in the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Winner Poland's Iga Swiatek, right, holds the trophy flanked by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus after winning the women's final match against at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek kisses the trophy after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts as she plays Poland's Iga Swiatek during the women's final match, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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