Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: Stuttgart fan Aryna Sabalenka clearly ahead
Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka continues to feel very comfortable in Stuttgart: In her first game at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2023, she easily won against Barbora Krejcikova.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Apr 19, 2023, 08:39 pm
Krejcikova had recently presented herself in an improving form and in round 1 she only allowed her opponent Liudmila Samsonova two games - but Stuttgart lover Aryna Sabalenka was a league too strong on Wednesday evening. In the end it was 6:2, 6:3 for the finalist of the last two editions of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Should Sabalenka keep this level, all good things could actually come in threes if she were to make it to the final.
"I don't know what it is, but I feel so at home here," enthused Sabalenka about the tournament and about Stuttgart - and she already has the spectators in the Porsche Arena behind her. "It was a great match, especially against Barbora it's always difficult," she also paid tribute to her opponent. Krejcikova was out of action for some time last year after her great run in 2021, but found her strength again towards the end of the season. And had also won in Dubai in 2023, in the final against world no. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka: Not a double fault
But there was nothing to be gained against Sabalenka, on-court man Heinz Günthardt called her "fearless". Is there anything she is afraid of? "I'm afraid of double faults," Sabalenka countered jokingly - an allusion to her "yips" last year. But those are now in the past. Ten aces, only one double fault - according to the statistics here on Wednesday evening, they didn't allow a break chance at all.
Sabalenka can now take a deep breath and enjoy some Stuttgart on Thursday, she only has to play again on Friday. Quarter-final opponent will then be the winner from the game between Paula Badosa and Cristina Bucsa. Badosa set an exclamation mark on Tuesday with a smooth win over Daria Kasatkina, a duel against Sabalenka could be one of the highlights here at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Here the individual tableau in Stuttgart
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