 Ash Barty vs. Arena Sabalenka is the final of the Madrid Open for 2021. Both players have had different roads to get to the final. The No. 5 seed Sabalenka took on qualifiers von Ereber in the first round and got through in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. In the second round she would take on Russian Kazakina and again a very impressive performance winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Her third round opponent was against in-form American Pagula and again Sabalenka proved too good winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. In her quarter-final matchup she was going to take on close friend and Grand Slam doubles partner Elise Mertens. And with Sabalenka winning the first set Mertens was forced to retire in the second going down 6-1 for love retirement. In the semi-finals Sabalenka would take on Pavlechenkova and just as she had done all tournament she got through in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 advancing to the final without dropping a set. World No. 1 Ash Barty had a tricky first round opponent Shelby Rogers but she got through in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. Her second round was against the qualifier Zed and Sek and after losing the second set Barty would come back to win 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. In a third round match she took on the 14th seed and reigning French Open Champion Egas Fiontek and although Barty struggled early her experience prevailed getting through in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. The quarter-final matchup was against 9th seed Petra Kovitova and these two had played many times before in some epic matches and this was no different. It went the distance but Barty got through in the end 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. In the semi-finals she was taking on Spanish wildcard Bodosa who had had a great tournament getting to the semis but Barty was too good getting through in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the final. These two have played 7 times before with Barty leading the head-to-head 4-3 and leading their head-to-head on clay 1-0 having only played a couple of weeks ago in Stuttgart in a Type 3 setup. Savaleng is going to win this match she needs to be clean on serve and she also needs to be clean in her ground stroke. She needs to push Barty around and hopefully she's learnt from that match a couple of weeks ago in Stuttgart in order for Barty to win she's going to have to bring the variety that she brings to every single game. Use the slice backhand and get Savalenga angry and get her frustrated as she did in the Stuttgart final. One's an interesting one to pick because Savalenga yet to drop a set but she hasn't played someone as good as Barty and we know Barty chopped her up a couple of weeks ago. So I'm going to go with Ash Barty who's continuing to prove that she is the true world number one. Let me know down in the comments below. Who do you think is going to win this final?