(Video) Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial decision frustrates Marta Kostyuk as she engages in heated argument with umpire in Madrid

Aryna Sabalenka took a 3-0 head-to-head lead over Marta Kostyuk with a straight-set victory in the Madrid Open quarterfinals.

(Video) Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial decision frustrates Marta Kostyuk as she engages in heated argument with umpire in Madrid

Marta Kostyuk argued with the chair umpire after Aryna Sabalenka was allowed to hit the first serve (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, We Are Tennis)

In a windy condition, Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk battled it out to book a spot in the semifinals of the Madrid Open. The match, held on April 30 on Manolo Santana, saw a heated moment due to rain.

After a tense first set which ended in Sabalenka’s favor, the World No.1 was serving at 4-5 in the tie-break of the second set when rain made it difficult for her to serve. After missing her first serve, she asked the umpire whether they should stop the match for a while.

But the chair umpire said the rain was not that bad for the match to halt. Sabalenka was about to hit her second serve but stopped abruptly. She approached the chair umpire again and complained that the rain was falling in her eyes.

The umpire then stopped the play for a while as the roof was closed; and Sabalenka got the chance to hit a first serve when play resumed. But this decision made Kostyuk furious. She argued with the umpire why Sabalenka would hit the first serve again when nobody stopped her.

She was waiting for five minutes to serve! And then she started to serve again. How is this possible? Why is it first serve again?

Marta Kostyuk asked the umpire

When play resumed, Sabalenka finished the match in her favor with a 7-6(4), 7-6(7) scoreline. She booked a spot in the Madrid Open semifinals for the fourth time. After the match, Kostyuk did not shake hands with the 26-year-old as players from Ukraine have refused to shake hands with those from Russia and Ukraine due to the war.

But wait, she stopped by herself. Nobody stopped her! It was like two minutes when she served first time and then she stopped. She could have served ten times, and she voluntarily stopped. You told her she has to keep going and she stopped by herself again. By herself!

Marta Kostyuk said

Watch the video here:

Aryna Sabalenka reveals how she was able to beat Marta Kostyuk

Aryna Sabalenka improved her head-to-head record over the Marta Kostyuk to 3-0. Prior to the Madrid Open, they met at the 2022 Dubai Open and the 2023 Roland Garros. Following the quarterfinal match, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion said controlling herself and not letting the pressure get the better of her helped her come out on top of the 22-year-old.

Marta Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka
Marta Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/MMOpen)

That was a battle and conditions were incredibly tough. It wasn’t about tennis, it was about the way you handle your emotions. I think I did really well and I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.

Aryna Sabalenka said during the on-court interview

Sabalenka is bidding to win her third title in the Spanish capital, following her victories in 2021 and 2023. Last year, she squandered three championship points and failed to defend her title, losing to Iga Swiatek in three sets in a match that won the 2024 WTA Match of the Year.

There’s a possibility of a third consecutive Madrid Open final between Swiatek and Sabalenka. If Sabalenka is successful in beating Elina Svitolina, and Swiatek topples Coco Gauff, then they will become the first players to meet in the finals of a WTA 1000 event three times in a row.

The five-time Grand Slam champion holds an 8-4 lead in the head-to-head matchups. Sabalenka, the winner of 19 singles titles, has won only two clay-court titles (her Madrid Open victories).

In the tournament, Sabalenka is bidding to win her third title of the season, having lifted the Brisbane International and her first Sunshine Double title at the Miami Open. Apart from these victories, she also reached the finals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and the Stuttgart Open.

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