Sabalenka to Clash with Stivolina in Madrid Open Semifinal

Madrid: In a thrilling match at the Manolo Santana court on Thursday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka prevailed over Marta Kostyuk to secure her place in the Madrid Open semifinal.

The intense battle between the Ukrainian and Belarusian athletes stretched over three hours, featuring powerful baseline exchanges, emotional moments, and unwavering resolve.

Despite facing stronger opposition than initially expected, Aryna Sabalenka maintained her composure during critical junctures to claim victory.

Both competitors displayed comparable skill sets, each recording two aces and committing five double faults.

Sabalenka landed 68% of her initial serves, while Kostyuk managed 54%. However, Kostyuk outperformed Sabalenka in first-serve win percentage, achieving 69% compared to Sabalenka’s 65%.

The pivotal moments of the contest unfolded during the tiebreaks. Sabalenka clinched both tiebreaks, one in each of the initial two sets, showcasing her mental fortitude under pressure.

Her ability to capitalize on crucial points proved decisive, converting three out of nine break points, while Kostyuk succeeded on three out of fifteen.

Although Kostyuk accumulated more receiving points with 48 compared to Sabalenka’s 44, Sabalenka ultimately secured a higher total of points won, 110 to 106, maintaining her composure to win a total of 14 games, against Kostyuk’s 12.

With this triumph, Sabalenka sustains her impressive form on clay and advances closer to defending her Madrid title.

The upcoming semifinal will see the Belarusian player compete against Ukraine’s Elina Stivolina.