Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka stunned world No 1 Ashleigh Barty to win the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday and put her success down t...
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka stunned world No 1 Ashleigh Barty to win the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday and put her success down to losing her fear of playing on clay.
Sabalenka was beaten by Barty in the final in Stuttgart last month but exacted revenge at the Caja Magica, a storming 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory clinching the biggest title of her career.
The 23-year-old has never gone past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but on this evidence she will be among the contenders at the French Open, which starts in Paris later this month.
“She takes the racket out of my hand when she serves the way she did in the first set,” Barty said. “I guarantee it won’t be the last time that it happens. I’ll continue to fight and try to find a way back in each and every time.”
This was Sabalenka’s 10th career title but her first on clay and it will see her rise to fourth in the world rankings on Monday.
“Before I was too much thinking about clay, that this surface is not for me, that it’s really tough to play, it’s about long rallies,” said Sabalenka. “Something changed in my mind this year. I’m...
