WTA Linz: Aryna Sabalenka leads the field
Five top 25 players fight for the anniversary triumph in Linz - with Nadia Podoroska, a French Open star arrives.
by PM
last edit: Oct 23, 2020, 04:48 pm
One life story is more exciting and more emotional than the other: Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, who is number twelve in the world and currently the best player in the world, celebrates her premiere at the Linz women's tennis classic "Upper Austria Ladies", had to cope with the death of her father Sergey in November of the previous year . He died completely unexpectedly at the age of 43. And the Argentine Nadia Podoroska, one of the sensational women at the recent French Open in Paris, has something in common with soccer star Lionel Messi and revolutionary Che Guevara.
“I'm just trying to fight because my dad wanted me to be number one. I do this for him. That's what helps me to be so strong right now, "said Aryna Sabalenka at the" Adelaide International Tournament "at the beginning of 2020. Among other things, with a success over the Romanian Wimbledon winner Simona Halep, the Minsk-born 22- Year old reached the semi-finals there, in which she had to admit defeat to the up-and-coming Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.
After a first round at the Australian Open, the 1.82 meter tall Sabalenka, who has already been compared to Serena Williams because of her punching power, made it to the quarter-finals in Dubai and celebrated her sixth WTA at the end of February in Doha with a final victory over the Czech Petra Kvitova -Title that she dedicated to her father ("That's for Dad!"). Then the season had to be canceled due to the Corona. Sabalenka is currently building on her strong form from the beginning of the year. In Ostrava, Czech Republic, she battled the Linz- in the round of 16 on Thursday. Sensation winner of 2019, US wonder teen Coco Gauff, with 1: 6, 7: 5, 7: 6 down.
In February 2019, Sabalenka had reached her top ranking in the world with ninth place. In doubles, she won the title at the US Open alongside Belgian Elise Mertens in 2019 and climbed to second place in the doubles world rankings (October 2019). Since August Sabalenka has been looked after by the German coach Dieter Kindlmann, who had previously trained Angelique Kerber. Sabalenka's trademark is a large tiger tattoo on her left forearm. Why the tiger? "I was born in the year of the tiger."
French Open semi-finalist Podoroska comes to Linz
Rosario - the birthplace of world famous personalities! The superstar of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi, just like the famous revolutionary Che Guevara saw the light of day in the Argentine metropolis. And Nadia Podoroska!
With her semi-finals, the Argentine qualifier wrote tennis history at the 2020 French Open - 23-year-old Nadia Podoroska won a main round match at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. But then pushing through to the semi-finals, no qualifier had succeeded in the history of professional tennis since 1968 in Paris.
After a quarter-final triumph over third-placed co-favorite Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), the Argentine’s triumphant advance was only ended by the later sensational Polish tournament winner Iga Swiatek. The congratulations of her legendary compatriot Gabriela Sabatini were certainly Podoroska. “You played an impressive tournament with heart and hard work and you are now one of the best 50 in the world. Keep following your dreams! Let's achieve even more! ”Tweeted the former world number three and 1990 US Open winner addressed to Nadia Podoroska.
With Camila Giorgi, a Linz winner competes again
About two years ago there was absolutely nothing to suggest a “tennis fairy tale”, on the contrary: Podoroska couldn't even have afforded a trip to Paris. She was out for eight months due to an injury to her right wrist, and the financial reserves no longer allowed for expensive tournament trips. The end of my career was not far off. "I had too many injuries and crashed in the ranking," she said: "That was the toughest time."
But Podoroska kept fighting and returned to the field in March 2018. It should be worth it as seen in Paris. Now the cheeky Argentine (number 48 in the current WTA ranking) also wants to inspire the tennis audience in Linz.
Who are the other top 25 players in the entry list for the “Upper Austria Ladies Linz”, which is endowed with USD 225,500 in prize money? Besides Aryna Sabalenka (WTA No. 12), Elena Rybakina (Kaz / No. 19), who Czech French Open finalist of 2019, Marketa Vondrousova (20), Elise Mertens (Belgium / 21) and Anett Kontaveit (Estonia / 22) announced their arrival. And with Camila Giorgi comes a darling of Linz tennis fans. The spirited player was the first Italian to win the Linz women's tennis classic in 2018!