Marta Kostyuk made a comment about Aryna Sabalenka’s sportsmanship after a controversial moment during the pair’s tense clash at the 2025 Madrid Open.
Sabalenka prevailed 7-6(4), 7-6(7) against world No 36 Kostyuk in a pulsating quarter-final encounter lasting two hours and 32 minutes.
The world No 1 saved a set point when Kostyuk served for the opening set at 5-4 and survived three more in the second set tiebreak after failing to convert a match point when serving at 6-5.
With Kostyuk leading 5-4 in the second set tiebreak, Sabalenka asked the chair umpire if play could be stopped due to rain after she missed her first serve.
After the umpire said, “I don’t think it’s that bad yet to stop. We can still play a bit”, Sabalenka returned to the baseline to hit her second serve, but refused to play after catching her ball toss.
This time, the umpire allowed the match to be paused as Sabalenka returned to her chair, which led Kostyuk to protest as this meant the Belarusian would receive a first serve when play resumed.
“She was waiting for five minutes to serve! Yeah, and then she tried to serve again — how is this possible? Why is it first serve? Why is it first serve again?” Kostyuk asked the umpire.
“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.
“It wasn’t you [who] stopped her. No, wait. First time she came [to the chair umpire], you told her she has to keep going and she stopped again by herself, again. By herself! No, but she said ‘I do not serve.’ Nobody stopped her. How is is first serve?”
During the delay, Kostyuk talked to her team courtside and could be heard saying: “She (Sabalenka) is never winning a sportsman’s award, that’s for sure.”
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Aryna Sabalenka’s impressive Madrid Open record that only Serena Williams can beat
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When play resumed, Kostyuk won the point to take a 6-4 lead, but she was unable to convert her set points as Sabalenka held her nerve in a thrilling conclusion.
In her on-court interview, Sabalenka said: “That was a battle. Conditions were incredibly tough. It wasn’t about tennis. It was about how you handle your emotions. I’m super proud I was able to handle myself in such a difficult situation.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion also explained she stopped play because the rain was making it “impossible” to serve.
“Oh my God…! Serving while the rain was falling was impossible. I tried with the first serve, but I realised that I had to stop because the water was getting into my eyes. It was impossible,” said the 26-year-old.
“I knew I was going to double fault, and I didn’t want that to happen, so I decided that the game couldn’t continue. I’m glad I did it.”
Sabalenka will face another Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina, in the semi-finals in Madrid.
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The post WATCH: Aryna Sabalenka’s rival says she ‘is never winning a sportsman award’ after Madrid Open controversy appeared first on Tennis365.
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