Aryna Sabalenka makes worrying admission after third-round exit in Dubai

World No.38 Clara Tauson stunned first seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 in the third round of the Dubai Open.

Aryna Sabalenka makes worrying admission after third-round exit in Dubai

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

Aryna Sabalenka suffered two early exits in the Middle East Swing. On Wednesday (February 19), World No.38 Clara Tauson needed an hour and 23 minutes to breeze past the first seed 6-3, 6-2.

Sabalenka arrived in Dubai following her opening round exit at the Qatar Open, where she suffered a three-set upset to Ekaterina Alexandrova. In Dubai then, the Belarusian registered a 6-3, 6-4 win over Veronika Kudermetova before her straight-set loss to Tauson. These results were enough to make Sabalenka confess that she lacked focus during matches and that tournaments in Australia fatigued her.

YouTube video

I believe that I’m not that hungry on court. I’m kind of all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent on the court. The decisions I’m making on the court are a bit wrong and emotionally, I’m not at my best. I’d say that for the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East. I believe we need to change something in the preparation.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference
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Last year, the World No.1 skipped the Qatar Open and was eliminated in the first round of Dubai. Sabalenka will next be preparing for the Indian Wells, which is scheduled to start on March 2. Last year in Indian Wells, the 26-year-old lost to Emma Navarro in the fourth round.

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Clara Tauson registers career-best win with triumph over Aryna Sabalenka

Clara Tauson has now faced Aryna Sabalenka twice in her career. In their first meeting, the Dane was knocked out of the third round of this year’s Australian Open where Sabalenka reached the final but couldn’t overcome Madison Keys, failing to complete the rare three-peat at the Melbourne Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

Now that we’ve played twice, I feel like my pace may be even higher than hers- though she’s obviously more consistent than I am. We play similar games. I like the way she plays and the way the ball comes off the racket.

Clara Tauson said during her on-court interview

Tauson had a ‘crazy’ last 24 hours as she slept five hours following her 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4) marathon versus former Dubai champion Elina Svitolina that ended not before midnight. With her win over Sabalenka, the 22-year-old reached her first career WTA 1000 quarterfinal and is scheduled to lock horns with Linda Noskova in a rematch of an Australian Open clash.

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That meeting in the first round at Melbourne Park was their first encounter where Tauson defeated the Czech ace 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. In Dubai, Tauson is bidding to win her second title of the year following her victory at the ASB Classic which she lifted after Naomi Osaka retired mid-match due to injury.