Sabalenka defeats Kostyuk in late-night thriller to power into Madrid Open semi-finals
The world No 1 overcame Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) on a stormy evening at the Madrid Open. She will play Elina Svitolina in the last four
Aryna Sabalenka, Madrid Open, 2025 © Laurent Lairys/Psnewz
Aryna Sabalenka survived a testing battle against Marta Kostyuk, eventually coming through 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) to reach the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on a blustery and damp night on Manolo Santana.
It is the two-time champion’s fourth last-four berth at the Caja Mágica and her third consecutive semi-final appearance, but she was made to work harder than she has all tournament to get over the line against a typically spirited and resilient Kostyuk.
Both players had to contend against each other and the impending threat of an expected storm in the Spanish capital, as windy conditions added an extra dimension to an extended and intriguing contest.
stormy weather mirrors match in compelling encounter
After a close first set across which neither player could capitalise on a flurry of break-point opportunities, Kostyuk then struck what looked to be the decisive blow in the ninth game, converting her tenth break point of the opening stanza to earn a chance to serve for the set.
But Sabalenka upped her return pressure to break straight back, saving a set point in the process before converting her second break point of the game to restore parity.
Kostyuk then saved a set point of her own on her serve to take it to a tiebreak, but it was the Belarusian who took it 7-4 to clinch a mammoth 85-minute opening set on her third set point.
An early exchange of breaks in the second set was followed by another cagey affair, during which the increasingly stormy-looking weather threatened to halt proceedings.
The set went with serve before Sabalenka struck again for her third break of the match in the eleventh game, only for Kostyuk to break straight back to force a deserved tiebreak.
Mid-way through the breaker, with the score poised delicately at 5-4, the weather finally followed through on its threat. Sabalenka made the call to stop, much to Kostyuk’s irritation which boiled over into remonstrations with the umpire from the Ukrainian.
On resumption under a closed roof ten minutes later, the Belarusian then saved three set points before clinching victory in a thrilling finish.
The absence of a handshake between the two players – for reasons well documented – underlined the lack of love lost between the two after a contest laced with tension throughout.
As Sabalenka put it in her on-court interview, “It wasn’t about tennis, it was about the way you handle your emotions. I think I did that well, and I’m super proud that I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.
“That was a battle. Conditions were incredibly tough.”
There was notably no mention of her opponent in the world No 1’s interview, who will go on to play another Ukrainian when she takes on 17th seed Elina Svitolina in what promises to be a captivating semi-final.
