Aryna Sabalenka expecting ‘big chance’ to win on Madrid clay
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Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka is still waiting for her first title on clay since her 2023 Madrid triumph.
PHOTO: AFP
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MADRID – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka believes that she will have “big chances” to perform well on clay this season, should she recapture the level she showed during the 2024 Madrid Open final against Iga Swiatek.
The Belarusian squandered three match points in a heartbreaking defeat by Swiatek in the Spanish capital 12 months ago, in what was a high-quality clash that earned WTA Match of the Year honours at the end of the season.
Targeting a third Madrid Open crown this fortnight at the Caja Magica, Sabalenka reflects fondly on the final against her Polish rival, despite coming agonisingly close to victory before falling just short.
“That match was a blockbuster and I really enjoyed playing. It was very intense, very long,” she said on April 23.
“If I can play like that in every match on clay, I think I have big chances to perform well on the clay-court season this year. That was an amazing match, even though I lost it.
“Nothing I can be upset with, to be honest. I did my best there and she just outplayed me.”
Sabalenka arrives in Madrid on the back of a runner-up showing in Stuttgart, where she fell in the final to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
The 26-year-old, who won the 2024 US and Australian Opens, is still waiting for her first title on clay since her 2023 Madrid triumph.
The top seed will open her campaign against Russian Anna Blinkova in the second round on April 25.
This season is featuring live electronic line calling on clay for the first time on the WTA and ATP Tours – a decision that has been met with mixed reaction.
While some players are happy to avoid arguments with umpires by solely relying on technology, others have questioned the accuracy of the technology, given the replay does not always match the mark visible on the clay court.
“I prefer to have the Hawk-Eye system than the referee, because sometimes referees can be very weak to go there (to check the mark) and confirm that they made a mistake, so yeah, I prefer to have the Hawk-Eye system,” said Sabalenka.
In second-round action in Madrid on April 24, No. 2 seed Swiatek survived a scare in the first set but recovered to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 against Alexandra Eala, 19, of the Philippines.
Stuttgart winner Ostapenko, 27, was surprisingly bundled out in her opening match by her 35-year-old Latvian compatriot Anastasija Sevastova, who won 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
Meanwhile, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Madrid Open on April 24 with a thigh issue, in a blow for his French Open title defence preparations.
The Spaniard picked up the injury during his Barcelona Open final defeat by Holger Rune on April 20. AFP
