"The conditions here doesn't fit me well at all": Aryna Sabalenka left lamenting poor display on tennis return in Dubai after shock Vekic exit

Tuesday, 20 February 2024 at 21:00

Aryna Sabalenka suffered a tough defeat against world No. 31 Donna Vekic, losing 7-6(5), 3-6, 0-6 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. This marked her return to the court after securing her second title at the Australian Open. The Belarusian won only one of the last 13 games of the match and expressed disappointment with her performance in the Middle East tournament.

The current world No. 2 revealed that she didn't feel comfortable during her brief stint in the tournament: "I feel like the conditions here don't fit me well at all. It's really tricky for me to compete here in Dubai. A really tricky court for me," she explained.

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Sabalenka made several double faults at crucial points in the match, and despite being ahead 2-0 in the second set, unforced errors crept in just as Vekic raised her level: "I would say that the whole match I was leading, I was winning. I won the first set. I was up with a break. I didn't feel like I was up. The level was so bad today from me. I would say that she also didn't play her best.

“Like at the end she kind of step in and start playing way aggressively, way more aggressive 'cause she saw that I'm not playing my best at all. I think that's why she came back from that score that easy because, like, it was just like who's more lucky, you know? The level wasn't there at all,” former world No. 1 added.

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"She won a lot of matches against me. But all of the matches were close. I wouldn't say that she's really super tricky opponent for me. She's tough to play. She's a great fighter. She's a great player. Serving well. Playing well. It's not like because she's really tricky to play against."

Aryna Sabalenka's next challenge will be at Indian Wells, where she will be the second seed of the tournament. As for Vekic, she will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea (No. 22), who defeated the 13th seed Veronika Kudermetova (No. 19).

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Donna 'nother LEVEL 📶 @DonnaVekic comes from behind to upset Australian Open champion Sabalenka in Dubai! #DDFTennis

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11:11 AM · Feb 20, 2024

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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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