(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Fumes After Berlin Open Match Suspended Due to Slippery Surface

Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her first grass-court title at the Berlin Open where last year, she retired mid-match in the quarterfinals.

(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Fumes After Berlin Open Match Suspended Due to Slippery Surface

Aryna Sabalenka wanted to continue her Berlin Open opening-round match (Image via X/Jose Moron, The Tennis Letter)

Aryna Sabalenka couldn’t complete her opening-round match against qualifier Rebeka Masarova at the Berlin Open because of the slippery surface. The match, held on Wednesday (June 18), saw the Belarusian win the first set 6-2.

But before the start of the second game, the supervisor stopped the match because the Swiss player complained about the surface being too slippery. Sabalenka was not ready to accept the decision and she confronted the supervisor.

So you’re stopping the match because she said that side is slippery? I just played two games on that side. She’s just losing the match.

Aryna Sabalenka said

Watch the video here:

Had the World No.1 won that match, she would have scheduled a quarterfinal clash with Elena Rybakina or Katerina Siniakova.

Sabalenka arrived in Berlin following the French Open heartbreak. She reached the final in the clay-court Major for the first time but couldn’t cross the final hurdle as Coco Gauff came from a set down to lift her second Grand Slam singles title.

Aryna Sabalenka has never reached the Wimbledon final

Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her fourth title of the season in Berlin following her victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. Sabalenka has so far reached seven finals, including in the two Grand Slam events. At the Australian Open, Madison Keys denied her the three-peat.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

The Belarusian, however, has never tasted success in a grass-court tournament. Nearly two weeks ago, Sabalenka played the final at Roland Garros and didn’t get much time to recover from the defeat. Still, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion has set her sights on Wimbledon.

I love the grass, especially after the clay court tour. There, you have to fight hard for every point, but on grass, everything moves a bit faster, and that’s something I love. The calendar is very tight, hardly any time to recover from Roland Garros, and there aren’t many opportunities to ‘feel’ the grass before Wimbledon.

Aryna Sabalenka said in her pre-tournament press conference

The 27-year-old was the semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2023. She didn’t play this Major last year because of an injury.

If Sabalenka reaches the final, she could set up a clash with Coco Gauff again. The second seed will meet Wang Xinyu on June 19 to kick-start her Berlin Open campaign. If Sabalenka meets Gauff, then it will be their third meeting this season, following the Madrid Open and French Open finals.

Sam Querrey questions Aryna Sabalenka’s decision to partner with Grigor Dimitrov

Sabalenka will be playing the US Open mixed doubles with Grigor Dimitrov but former player John Isner, on the Nothing Major podcast, questioned Sabalenka’s decision as he thinks the Bulgarian would hold the team back. Sam Querrey too is of the same opinion.

Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

That’s what I think too! No offense Grigor, but I feel like Sabalenka could have done a little better.

Dimitrov was scheduled to play with Gael Monfils in the ongoing Queen’s Club Championships but he withdrew from the match because of an injury. The 34-year-old also couldn’t complete his first-round match against Ethan Quinn at the French Open due to a thigh injury.

Dimitrov, the winner of nine singles titles, hasn’t yet won a tournament this year. The former World No.3 has a 14-10 win-loss record this season. He last lifted a title at the 2024 Brisbane International.

At the US Open, Dimitrov has never participated in mixed doubles. In singles, he was the semifinalist in 2019. Sabalenka, on the other hand, lifted her third Major singles title at Flushing Meadows last year by beating home favorite Jessica Pegula. She was the finalist in 2023, losing that match to Gauff.

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