Resilient Aryna Sabalenka prevails over Marta Kostyuk in rainy Madrid Open clash, sets up Svitolina semifinal
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka secures a hard-fought victory against Marta Kostyuk 7-6(4), 7-6(7) and returns to the semifinals of the Madrid Open. This is the fourth time in her last 5 appearances in Madrid that Sabalenka has reached at least the semifinals, having won the title in 2021 and 2023.
This marks Sabalenka's 18th appearance in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event, winning 8 titles so far. This time, the Belarusian will face the 17th seed Elina Svitolina, against whom she has a favorable head-to-head record of 4-1.
First Set
A tight first set, in which both faced several break points. Towards the middle of the set, Kostyuk had already saved six break points against her and had wasted two opportunities. The wind made its presence felt in the Madrid afternoon; three double faults from Sabalenka and several unforced errors gave an opportunity to Kostyuk, while the Belarusian was visibly frustrated by the difficult conditions on the court.
Sabalenka struggled against Kostyuk's solid baseline game to keep the ball in play when Sabalenka took the initiative in the point, forcing the Ukrainian to take more risks, which led to several errors from the Belarusian. This led to the break for the Ukrainian in the 9th game, taking a 5-4 lead.
Marta Kostyuk at 2024 Stuttgart Open.
However, Sabalenka's resilience emerged. After saving a set point against her, the world No. 1 brought out her best tennis to win three consecutive points and secure her first break of the match. The 3-time major champion then wasted a set point at 6-5 and took everything to the tie-break. This time, it was the Belarusian who took the early advantage and showed consistency on her serve to close out the set 7-6[7-4] after one hour and 25 minutes of play.
Second Set
The Belarusian showed confidence at the start of the second set, securing an early break and taking a 2-0 lead after four chances. However, Sabalenka's joy was short-lived, as she lost her serve in the next game, while Kostyuk leveled the score at 2-2 with her serve.
From there, both were relentless on serve, and short points became increasingly common. Kostyuk was more aggressive this time, looking for good angles to transition from defense to attack. Rain began to appear at 5-5, but the chair umpire decided to continue play.
Under these conditions, Kostyuk committed three consecutive unforced errors, including a double fault, and Sabalenka finished off the break with a forehand winner to take the elad 6-5. Sabalenka started well on serve with a couple of impressive points, but squandered her first match point on serve. Then Kostyuk showed she wasn't finished yet, winning the break on her second chance and sending it back to a tiebreak.
The Ukrainian was the first to take the lead, but the rain intensified and the tie-break had to be interrupted when she was leading 5-4 and Sabalenka was about to serve. After a few minutes, they returned to the court and Kostyuk got up to three set points, but Sabalenka came back from each of them and ended up securing the victory by 7-6(4), 7-6(7)
Sabalenka advances to the semifinals of a WTA 1000 for the 18th time and will face another Ukrainian: the 17th seed Elina Svitolina, who swept aside the tournament's surprise, Moyuka Uchijima, in the quarterfinals.
Match Statistics Sabalenka vs. Kostyuk
| Sabalenka | VS | Kostyuk |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 2 | Aces | 2 |
| 5 | Double Faults | 5 |
| 65% (75/116) | 1st Service Percentage | 52% (52/100) |
| 64% (48/75) | 1st Service Points Won | 65% (34/52) |
| 43% (16/37) | 2nd Service Points Won | 48% (23/48) |
| 81% (13/16) | Break Points Saved | 67% (6/9) |
| 75% (9/12) | Service Games | 75% (9/12) |
| Return | ||
| 35% (18/52) | 1st Return Points Won | 36% (27/75) |
| 52% (25/48) | 2nd Return Points Won | 57% (21/37) |
| - | Break Points Saved | - |
| Other | ||
| 2h 30m | Match Duration | 2h 30m |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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