Aryna Sabalenka ‘all over the place’ in Dubai exit
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Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus taking on Clara Tauson of Denmark in her second match in Dubai. She lost 6-3, 6-2.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
DUBAI – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka blamed a lack of hunger for her last-16 exit in Dubai at the hands of Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Feb 19, adding that she was kind of “all over the place”.
The Belarusian has won just one of the three matches she contested during this Middle East swing, losing last week’s opener in Doha and falling 6-3, 6-2 to 38th-ranked Tauson in her second match in Dubai.
After a strong start to the 2025 season, winning the Brisbane title and reaching a third consecutive Australian Open final, Sabalenka has lost her momentum with three losses in her last four matches.
“I believe that I’m not that hungry on court,” said the 26-year-old following her 82-minute loss.
“I’m kind of all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent on the court. The decisions I’m making on the court are a bit wrong and emotionally, I’m not at my best.”
She also revealed that she has been struggling with a cold for the past few days but is recovering.
Sabalenka has not made it past the quarter-finals in any of her nine appearances in Dubai. Her last success in Doha came in 2020, when she won the title.
“I’d say that for the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East. I believe we need to change something in the preparation,” added the three-time Grand Slam champion.
“Every time I don’t feel well playing here. Even health-wise, I’m struggling. Australia always takes a lot of energy out of me. We need to think with the team for the future how we can improve in the preparation for the Middle East.”
Tauson had a late-night finish in her previous match, needing 2hr 41min to defeat Elina Svitolina at the end of a long, rainy day on Feb 18.
The 22-year-old Dane posted the first top-five win of her career against Sabalenka, and just her second over a top-10 opponent.
“I’ve had some crazy 24 hours after yesterday. I think I slept maybe five hours last night. We went to sleep at 3.30am and I didn’t know what shape I was going to come out here in. But a pretty good one it seems,” she said.
“I knew she had to beat me, I’m the underdog all the way. So I was really enjoying my time out here on court and I’m just looking forward to the next one now.”
Tauson’s tournament got even better after she sealed a semi-final berth on Feb 20 by dispatching Linda Noskova 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
On a tough day for seeded players in the United Arab Emirates, world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini and No. 8 Zheng Qinwen both joined Sabalenka and Pegula on the list of casualties. Paolini saw her title defence come to a halt with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to American wild card Sofia Kenin, while Zheng suffered through cramps in her 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat by American Peyton Stearns.
“The weather is pretty hot, then plus yesterday was a long day waiting and everything,” said Olympic champion Zheng, whose second-round clash against Stearns was postponed from Feb 18 due to the rain. AFP
