World number one Aryna Sabalenka will meet Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals of the tournament following an intense victory over Elise Mertens. Sabalenka’s victory came with a surprising caveat. So on that final hole, when the moment was most critical, she took full advantage and whipped out her cell phone to snap a pic of a contested ball mark.
Sabalenka won the final 6-4, 6-1. It’s a shame because it had a lot of positive, controversial moments that raised eyebrows among fans and got the ears of officials. In her on-court interview, Sabalenka gave credit to Paolini for an excellent match. Paolini had recently beaten Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3 to earn her place in the semifinals.
The Disputed Call
During an intense moment of her second round match against Elise Mertens, Sabalenka contested an out call by line judge Miriam Bley. Frustrated with the umpire for not allowing her to challenge that contested mark, Sabalenka immediately snatched a cell phone away from another member of her team. She took a picture of the scar herself. The audience erupted with excitement, booing and whistling when she filmed the event.
Even with a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct given to Bley after the incident, Sabalenka lost her emotional momentum but recovered fast. She bounced back right after the warning and took control of the fight.
Match Highlights
It wasn’t a straight path to victory for Sabalenka. She seemed confounded when an overrule went against her, giving Mertens the first service break of the match. But she quickly responded in kind, breaking back and then moving in front at 5-4 in the first set.
The second set continued the momentum shift and Sabalenka took control, winning against Mertens fairly easily for your effective final that did not set up anyone’s day. Her stunning performance proved what she is capable of accomplishing and her resolve as an artist operating in the extremely fraught milieu of the game today.
Reflections on Sportsmanship
After her final match of the day finished—she lost later to Zhang Shuai—Sabalenka opened up about her encounter with umpire Bley. Thinking back on their handshake, she said that the intensity of their meeting could not be overstated.
“When I gave her a handshake there was a very interesting look and a very strong handshake, never had it before.” – Aryna Sabalenka
This player statement highlights how high the stakes were in the match, and how this incident has reinvigorated debates around player behavior and officiating at the professional level.
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