MADRID – Defending Madrid Open champion Aryna Sabalenka said it was “incredible tennis” as she produced a brilliant comeback from a set and a break down to beat Elena Rybakina on May 2 and reach the final.
The Belarusian second seed triumphed 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) and will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek on May 4 in a rematch of the 2023 title decider. Swiatek earlier eased past American Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3.
“I don’t know how, but somehow I was able to stay alive in the second set,” said Sabalenka, aiming for a third Madrid Open title in her third final.
“Probably she missed her opportunities, and I used my opportunities. It was a tough match, she’s a great player, it was incredible tennis tonight.”
Rybakina dominated a below-par Sabalenka in the first set with two breaks, but faced far stiffer resistance in the second after going a break up in the third game.
In the deciding third set, the players exchanged holds with just one break point reached – Sabalenka staying firm for a 6-5 advantage – before the tie-break.
She sealed her victory with a typically powerful serve that Rybakina could not control.
The big-hitter had lost three of her last four clashes against her Kazakh opponent but emerged triumphant as they met on clay for the first time.
Next up is Swiatek, who has a 6-3 record against Sabalenka. But in their only match in the Spanish capital, the latter triumphed in 2023 to claim the title.
Dominant on clay, three-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek barely put a foot wrong against Keys.
“I’m really happy that I had such a solid game today,” she said after reaching her 11th WTA 1000 final. “Madison is an amazing player with a really fast game and a big serve, so I’m happy I was focused.”
In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev faces an anxious wait to know the extent of an injury that forced him out of quarter-finals, as the Russian joined a group of top players struggling with fitness issues before the French Open.
He had treatment on the upper part of his right leg while leading Czech Jiri Lehecka 3-2 in the first set and again two games later. He went on to lose the set 6-4 before telling the umpire he could not continue.
“I couldn’t sprint, like when you strain a muscle or have a spasm,” Medvedev said.
“At the end of the set, I was (thinking) if I want to continue, I’ll just try to sprint to the net,” said Medvedev. “When I sprinted I felt pain. So I was like, no need to continue.”
He is the latest player to exit after Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner pulled out before his quarter-final with Felix Auger -Aliassime due to a hip injury.
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is also managing a right forearm problem and has withdrawn from the Italian Open in Rome next week.
In the semi-final on May 3, Russian Andrey Rublev ousted American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3. His opponent in the final will be either Auger-Aliassime or Lehecka, whose last-four result was not available at press time. REUTERS, AFP
