Aryna Sabalenka faced off against Marta Kostyuk once again in the Rome quarterfinals, and it was another thrilling match. The World No. 1 showed her prowess, winning in a dramatic tiebreak set. This victory adds to her impressive record of WTA 1000 match wins, as she continues to dominate after their previous encounter in the Madrid quarterfinals.
Sabalenka’s Dominance in the Quarterfinals
In their rematch, which took place on Monday, Sabalenka took down the 27th-ranked Kostyuk with a score of 6-1, 7-6(8) in just over two hours at Campo Centrale. This match completed the lineup for the quarterfinals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The first set was straightforward for Sabalenka, but the second set turned into a nail-biting contest. After falling behind 5-3, Sabalenka rallied to secure the win, extending her head-to-head record against Kostyuk to 4-0.
Next up for Sabalenka is No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen from China, a matchup that favors Sabalenka, as she has won all six previous encounters with Zheng, including their recent match at the Miami Open quarterfinals.
In terms of consistency, Sabalenka has been outstanding this season, reaching six finals—the most by any player before the French Open since 2013. If she makes it to a seventh final in Rome, she will join the ranks of legendary players like Chris Evert and Steffi Graf.
Sabalenka’s run has been impressive, winning her last 15 matches at WTA 1000 events, and she is the first player since 2015 to reach the quarterfinals in four major tournaments in a single season.
Earlier this month, she showcased her resilience by saving 40 break points during her title run in Madrid. In the match against Kostyuk, Sabalenka faced several break points but managed to fend them off, only giving up one after saving the first 12 she encountered.
The second set was filled with thrilling rallies, with Kostyuk even holding a set point at 7-6. However, Sabalenka responded with a powerful forehand winner, and after a tense tiebreak, she secured her victory with a clever drop shot on her third match point.
There’s more excitement ahead as the tournament continues, with Sabalenka proving time and again why she is one of the top contenders on the WTA tour. Fans eagerly anticipate her next match, where she will look to extend her winning streak and further solidify her position at the top of women’s tennis.