Aryna Sabalenka hits a forehand. (Reuters Photo)
Aryna Sabalenka’s hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive Stuttgart Open final ended after a 3-6 6-3 7-5 quarter-final defeat by Marketa Vondrousova.
World number two Aryna Sabalenka’s hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive Stuttgart Open final ended after a 3-6 6-3 7-5 quarter-final defeat by Marketa Vondrousova on Friday, while champion Iga Swiatek maintained her perfect record at the event.
World number one Swiatek extended her run at the tournament to 10-0 and is now two wins away from claiming a third successive Stuttgart title following her 7-6(2) 6-3 win over Briton’s Emma Raducanu.
The Stuttgart Open saw a major shakeup on Friday as second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a fourth straight final appearance was halted by Marketa Vondrousova. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run, extending her undefeated streak at the tournament to 10 matches.
Sabalenka, who had benefitted from a retirement by Paula Badosa in the previous round, couldn’t overcome a determined Vondrousova. The match went back-and-forth, with Sabalenka taking the first set 6-3 before Vondrousova clawed her way back to win the next two sets 6-3, 7-5. This victory marks Vondrousova’s first semi-final appearance since her Wimbledon title run in 2023.
On the other side of the draw, Swiatek displayed her mastery on clay once again. The Polish star edged out Emma Raducanu in a tight first set tie-break before comfortably taking the second set 6-3. Swiatek now faces fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals, with a potential third consecutive Stuttgart title within reach.
Key Takeaways:
* Marketa Vondrousova upsets Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling quarter-final clash.
* Iga Swiatek remains undefeated in Stuttgart, marching into the semi-finals.
* Swiatek will face Elena Rybakina next, aiming for a hat-trick of Stuttgart titles.
What to Watch Next:
The semi-final clash between Swiatek and Rybakina promises to be a battle between two in-form players. Swiatek will look to continue her clay-court dominance, while Rybakina will be aiming to upset the world number one and reach her first final in Stuttgart.
Tennis fans will also be eager to see if Vondrousova can maintain her momentum and reach the final for the first time since Wimbledon 2023. The Stuttgart Open continues to deliver exciting matches, and the upcoming semi-finals promise to be no different.
