Coco Gauff got past the disappointment of losing the Madrid Open final to Aryna Sabalenka and was celebrating a solid week that will make her the top-ranked American woman on Monday.

It figured to be more of the same at the start of Madrid. Dayana Yastrameska of Ukraine bageled her in the first set of their opening match, 6-0. Gauff managed to steady herself and survive that day, though it was dicey to the end, with Gauff failing to serve out the match on her first attempt.

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have forged a fierce rivalry, often clashing in the high-stakes rounds of major tournaments. Their unforgettable US Open final in 2023 still lingers in memory! Coco, just 19,