Aryna Sabalenka has once again triumphed over Marta Kostyuk, this time in the quarterfinals in Rome, following a nail-biting tiebreak set. The World No. 1 continues to rack up victories at WTA 1000 events, having previously defeated Kostyuk in the Madrid quarterfinals last week.
In their latest match on Campo Centrale, Sabalenka managed to fend off the 27th-ranked Kostyuk from Ukraine with a score of 6-1, 7-6(8), taking 2 hours and 5 minutes to secure her spot in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The first set was a straightforward win for Sabalenka, but the second set turned into a thrilling battle. After trailing 5-3, she pulled off an impressive comeback to maintain her perfect record against Kostyuk, now leading their head-to-head 4-0.
Next Challenges for Sabalenka
Next up for Sabalenka is the No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen from China. Historically, this matchup looks promising for Sabalenka, as she has won all six previous encounters, including their recent clash in the Miami Open quarterfinals and the final at the 2024 Australian Open.
Sabalenka has been a model of consistency this season, already reaching six finals— the most by any player before Roland Garros since 2013. Should she make it to a seventh final in Rome, she would join the ranks of legends like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles as one of the few players to achieve this feat in the past 40 years.
Her recent performance has been nothing short of impressive; including her titles in Miami and Madrid, she has won her last 15 matches at WTA 1000 tournaments. Moreover, she is the first player since Carla Suarez Navarro in 2015 to reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome in a single season.
Earlier this month, during her title run in Madrid, Sabalenka saved an impressive 40 break points, a record for WTA 1000 events since 2022. In her match against Kostyuk, she showcased her resilience by saving the first 12 break points she faced before Kostyuk finally managed to convert her 13th opportunity.
The second-set tiebreak was filled with exciting rallies, with Kostyuk even holding a set point at 7-6. However, Sabalenka responded with a powerful forehand winner, allowing the tiebreak to continue. She ultimately clinched the victory on her third match point with a clever drop shot, proving once again her capability to perform under pressure in these high-stakes matches.