Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Energetic Aryna Sabalenka continues, Badosa also wins
Aryna Sabalenka (WTA No. 3) has won an eagerly awaited opening match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 21, 2022, 05:42 pm
In her opening game in Stuttgart, Sabalenka, seeded third, faced ex-US Open winner Bianca Andreescu - who played her first tournament of the year at the Porsche Tennis Grand. In the end Sabalenka won 6:1, 3:6 and 6:2.
Sabalenka was aggressive as usual from the start: on serve (despite a total of seven double faults), where she directly dictated the pace of the rally, as well as on the return. Andreescu, also not one who is unfamiliar with the pace, rarely got the push - too rarely to unpack her variable tennis. She still managed to equalize the set and didn't let herself be left behind in the third set either, had four more break chances at 4: 2 for Sabalenka, but the Belarusian unpacked strong serves.
The match ball is characteristic: A swift rally, at the end of which Sabalenka shot a backhand cross with all her elemental force, right on the sideline.
Nevertheless, Andreescu can be satisfied: Due to health problems, she had been without a match since the end of last year and had won a tight box against Jule Niemeier in Stuttgart at the start. If she stays fit, we can count on her again soon.
Jabeur and Samsonova are also further
Paula Badosa, number 2 in the world and in the tournament, had previously celebrated a successful start - although she also had to stretch: 6.2, 4: 6 and 7: 6 (4) it was against Elena Rybakina in the end.
Also through: Ons Jabeur after beating Daria Kasatkina 6:3, 6:3, as well as Liudmila Samsonova after beating Karolina Pliskova 6:4, 6:4.
Also at the start today are Laura Siegemund against Maria Sakkari, later Emma Raducanu against Tamara Korpatsch (click here for the live scores).