"I'll be ready" - Sabalenka on facing Swiatek

No.3 seed Aryna Sabalenka made a triumphant return to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final with a 7-6(5), 6-4 semifinal win over No.2 seed Paula Badosa in Stuttgart on Saturday.

Sabalenka, who finished as runner-up to Ashleigh Barty last season, moved back into the championship match after a 1-hour and 40-minute victory over her Stuttgart doubles partner Badosa. She said:

"In the beginning, I couldn’t find my rhythm, and then there was like nothing to lose. She was up with a break. I kind of told myself in that game, 'You have to work through it, you have to run and get everything you can, and just put her under pressure in that game.' I did it well and I broke her back."

She further said:

"That gave me a little bit more power and motivation to keep fighting for this set. And then with every point I played, I was feeling better and better, and I found my rhythm. But it was a tough match. There were a lot of break points for her, for me. It was ups and downs, and I am super happy that I was able to win this one."

On the matchup against Swiatek:

"That [Doha] match surprised me because [Swiatek] played super fast and super aggressive. In that match I was surprised in every point she was making. Now as she won three titles in a row, that’s not going to surprise me. I’ll be ready for this game, and I’ll be ready for a fight, and the winners she’s going to make are not going to surprise me. I think mentally that’s going to give me a little power to compete, no matter what."