\n<\/p>\n
It is the 22-year-old\u2019s 20th career title and denies Sabalenka a third crown in the Spanish capital.<\/p>\n
After the players exchanged early service breaks, they settled down and it was the serve that dominated proceedings.<\/p>\n
Swiatek was the first to be tested and as she started to make more unforced errors she needed to work hard to save three break points and level at 3-3.<\/p>\n
In the next game it was Swiatek\u2019s turn to earn break-point opportunities, but Sabalenka saved both thanks to a pair of forehand winners.<\/p>\n
But it was Swiatek who seized the initiative, forcing a couple of errors from her opponent to go 6-5 up and she showed nerves of steel on her own serve to take the set.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka had been a set and a break down before beating Elena Rybakina in Friday\u2019s semi-final, and made a superb start to the second set here, holding and then breaking to go 2-0 up.<\/p>\n
That started a run of four breaks in a row, only halted when the Pole, a four-time French Open champion, held to level at 3-3.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka did her best not to let her rival settle into a rhythm and was rewarded when the pressure told on Swiatek as she served to stay in the second set, the Australian Open champion sending a smart forehand down the line to level the match at one set apiece.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka seized the early initiative in the decider, breaking to go 3-1 up and pile on the pressure but Swiatek clawed her way back into it and twice had to serve to stay in the match.<\/p>\n
The Belarusian, who turns 26 on Sunday, twice saw championship points come and go as Swiatek forced the tie-break – a first between the pair.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka went long with a forehand for Swiatek to earn her first match point, and although Sabalenka responded with an ace, moments later the world number one was given another chance – and Sabalenka went long again to spark celebrations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n