Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and a three-time Grand Slam singles champion. She garnered plenty of attention at this week’s Stuttgart Open in her quarterfinal match against Elise Mertens. An absurdly controversial moment came when Sabalenka was coded for a code violation. She had used her mobile phone to take a photo of a ball mark, intending to challenge an erroneous call made by the on-field umpire.
What makes the case even stranger is that this happened when the score was only 3-3 in the first set. Sabalenka’s volley, however, was ruled out, leaving her facing two break points. Sure that the home-plate umpire, Miriam Bley, had made a mistake in judgment, Sabalenka wanted to call for a challenge. After reviewing the mark on the clay court during the semi-final, Bley stood by her call.
Unhappy at having the match suspended, Sabalenka dialed up the ICC herself, reportedly using a phone borrowed from her team. She managed to take a quick picture of the contested mark. Her assertiveness is a testament to her competitive spirit, something that takes over in high stakes moments like this world cup.
The quarterfinal marked the beginning of Sabalenka’s Stuttgart Open campaign in 2021. She played only one match, having received a bye in the first round and a walkover in the second round. She missed last year’s tournament with a foot injury but looked every bit the contender as she sailed past Mertens and into the semifinals. The win gave Sabalenka the opportunity to increase her phenomenal bucket streak against Iga Świątek to six and oh.
Sabalenka’s history at the Stuttgart Open is stunning. She’s made the finals on three different occasions. She is not discouraged and is in fact more focused than ever to win the ultimate prize. She will play Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the semifinal on Sunday.
“Even if I don’t feel great on the day, I will just fight and leave it all on the court.” – Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s tenacity was on full display during her challenging three-set match against Mertens. After beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3 earlier in the tournament, she had the following to say about her fellow competitors.
“I have so much respect for her and her team and everything she is doing for tennis,” – Aryna Sabalenka
While her eyes are set on her next opponent, Sabalenka’s focus on being the best is unmistakable. Her journey at the Stuttgart Open reflects not only her skill as a player but her determination to overcome any obstacles in pursuit of victory.
Leave a Reply