(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Argues with Umpire After Receiving Hindrance Call During Australian Open Semifinal Against Elina Svitolina

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka locked horns with Elina Svitolina for the seventh time in her career.

(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Argues with Umpire After Receiving Hindrance Call During Australian Open Semifinal Against Elina Svitolina

Aryna Sabalenka (L) received hindrance call during her match against Elina Svitolina (R) (Image via X/Eurosport TR, HQ Pics, News Aryna Sabalenka)

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Aryna Sabalenka couldn’t believe it when she was penalized for hindrance by the chair umpire while she was clashing with Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open semifinal on Thursday (January 29).

The incident happened in the first set on Svitolina’s serve. During a rally, when Svitolina was about to return a shot, the umpire said, “Stop, hindrance”. Even Svitolina had a look of surprise. Sabalenka requested a video review.

During their argument, the umpire told the Belarusian that apart from her usual grunt, she made noise in the middle of a point.

You went, ‘Uh-aya’. You don’t make the normal sound.

The umpire told Aryna Sabalenka

Watch the video here:

Nothing like that had ever happened to me before, especially with my yell. It was really weird. The ball was going deep, and it was all about timing. When she called it, I was like, ‘What? What’s wrong with you?’ But it helped me; I played more aggressively, and it benefited my game.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

Sabalenka later ended the match in her favor with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline, improving her head-to-head record over the Ukrainian to 6-1. Svitolina, who made her fourth Major semifinals, was bidding to reach her career’s first Grand Slam final.

I wasn’t happy with the call, and it really helped me win that game. If it’s something that’s out of my control, I don’t mind. I think that’s the right approach to these kinds of situations.

Aryna Sabalenka added

Sabalenka will now be playing her fourth consecutive singles final at Melbourne Park. The four-time Grand Slam singles champion, in fact, has reached every final on hard court Major since lifting her career’s first Major singles title at the 2023 Australian Open by defeating Elena Rybakina. It’s the Kazakh ace whom Sabalenka will face again in the title clash on Saturday.

Sabalenka holds an 8-6 head-to-head lead over the 2022 Wimbledon champion but was defeated in their last meeting in the title clash of last year’s WTA Finals. Before scheduling the match against Sabalenka, Rybakina knocked out 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the semifinals and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.

Aryna Sabalenka on her mindset for the Australian Open final

Last year, Aryna Sabalenka suffered two heartbreaks in Grand Slam finals. After failing to complete the three-peat with a three-set defeat to Madison Keys in last year’s Australian Open, Sabalenka was denied the French Open by Coco Gauff.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/HQ Pics)

I know what went wrong in all those finals I played and lost, and I would say that last year was a lot of lessons, a lot to learn about myself, and that’s definitely not going to happen again this season. It’s simply a different mindset that I’m going to try to have in every final I play. Now my mindset is: I’m ready to do whatever it takes, whatever comes in that final, I’m ready to go out there and fight with what I have and give it my all.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

Sabalenka, however, was successful in defending her US Open crown by going past home favorite Amanda Anisimova. She, in fact, lifted two more Big Tiles – at the Madrid Open and the Miami Open by defeating Gauff and Jessica Pegula, respectively.

Sabalenka reached nine finals last year, winning four titles. Before arriving in Melbourne, she defended her title at the Brisbane International by defeating Marta Kostyuk. Sabalenka has yet to drop a set in the tournament. Elena Rybakina also hasn’t yet dropped a set.

Also read: (Video) Amanda Anisimova Blasts Team Members During Australian Open Quarterfinal Defeat to Jessica Pegula