Aryna Sabalenka`s wait is over — she has finally played, and won, a match at the 2025 edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Stuttgart: Draws | Scores | Order of play
After making it into the quarterfinals without striking a ball, World No. 1 Sabalenka bested her former doubles partner Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-1 in their quarterfinal encounter on Saturday night in Stuttgart.
Patience is a virtue: After her first-round bye, Sabalenka did not have to play in the second round because her opponent, Anastasia Potapova, withdrew from their match due to injury. Thus, Saturday evening`s quarterfinal was her first match of the week.
And World No. 29 Mertens definitely tested Sabalenka`s form in the first set. The Belgian moved ahead by a break at 4-3, and she was also a point away from leading 5-4 and serving for the one-set advantage.
But Sabalenka was able to get through that game and take the 5-4 lead for herself. From then on, the top seed was basically unstoppable, starting with a service break to capture the first set.
All told, Sabalenka broke Mertens in three of the Belgian`s final four service games, while the World No. 1 also peaked behind her own delivery.
Sabalenka won her last two service games at love, sweeping to victory over a player she has made Grand Slam history with. Sabalenka and Mertens teamed up to win doubles titles at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open.
Next up: Saturday`s nightcap quarterfinal between No. 4 seed Coco Gauff and No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini will determine Sabalenka`s semifinal opponent. Sabalenka is 4-2 against Paolini, but 4-5 vs. Gauff.
Sabalenka will be trying to make her fourth Stuttgart final in a five-year span. She finished as runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2023 — but has yet to win the title.
More to come…
