A double comeback from Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens sealed their passage to the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open final in a frenetic clash with Victoria Azarenka and Ashlyn Krueger. ‘Vika’ was vying for a second title in Madrid, but she eventually bowed out on the verge of the final.

The result means both Veronika and Elise are in their first final in Madrid. The duo are back together this week after playing their last tournament two and half years ago, which incidentally ended with a big title at the 2022 WTA Finals. They are doubles Masters. Despite the long layoff, their synergy remains intact and it is clear to see on court. If they were to claim the trophy it would be their fourth as a team. Mertens, a six-time doubles Grand Slam champion is bidding for her eighth WTA 1000, while it would be number four for Kudermetova.

Team Azarenka-Krueger got off to a solid start. They took the lead early and claimed the first set 6-4. Kudermetova and Mertens were struggling to find a way to hurt their opponents. However, the start of a new set changed everything. While the first was a constant exchange of breaks and counter-breaks, in the second there was only one break and it came in game one. Mertens hit a forehand down the line to seal the break. They then held onto their serve until they had matched their adversaries’ 6-4.

A super-tiebreak would be needed to decide who would progress to the final. It was there that the second comeback of the day materialised. Azarenka and Kreuger raced to a four-point advantage. 6-2 may have seemed like an insurmountable lead, but not to their opponents, who clawed their way back, winning 8 of the next 10 points to see out the semifinal on their first match point. The ticket to the final was theirs.

In the title bout they will take on the winner of the other semi between Hsieh-Ostapenko and Cirstea-Kalinskaya, of whom only the player from Taipei has ever won a title in the Spanish capital.