Aryna Sabalenka`s wait to play in the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is finally over, and she marked her debut with a victory.
Stuttgart: Draws | Scores | Order of play
After receiving a bye into the quarterfinals, world number one Sabalenka defeated her former doubles partner Elise Mertens in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, in their Saturday night quarterfinal match in Stuttgart.
“Finally, I played my match,” Sabalenka said after her win. “It`s the first time I play my first match on Saturday here. I am happy with the variety in my game today. I think it was a very good match.”
Sabalenka will face No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini in the semifinal. Paolini defeated No. 4 seed Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3 in Saturday`s quarterfinal nightcap. Sabalenka holds a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head record against Paolini.
Patience Pays Off for Sabalenka: Following her first-round bye, Sabalenka didn`t play in the second round because her opponent, Anastasia Potapova, withdrew due to injury. So, Saturday evening`s quarterfinal was her first match this week.
World No. 29 Mertens tested Sabalenka in the first set. The Belgian was just one point away from leading 5-4 and serving for the set.
However, Sabalenka managed to hold that game and take a 5-4 lead. From that point, the top seed became dominant, starting with a service break to win the first set.
In total, Sabalenka broke Mertens` serve in three of her last four service games. Sabalenka also excelled on her own serve, winning her last two service games to love.
“I had a week to practice on these courts, so I felt quite comfortable,” Sabalenka said. “I`ve also played here many times, so I know the courts and feel good on this surface. I think it was just about playing my first match on clay, getting used to the game, and not rushing things.”
Sabalenka`s record against Mertens in singles is now 9-2. They have a strong history as doubles partners, winning titles at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open.
Sabalenka is aiming for her fourth Stuttgart final in the last five years. She was a runner-up in 2021, 2022, and 2023 but has yet to win the title.
Paolini Achieves First Victory Over Gauff: In the final quarterfinal of the day, Italy`s Jasmine Paolini needed 1 hour and 28 minutes to secure her first win against American Coco Gauff in their third career match.
Gauff began strongly, breaking serve at love in the first game with her powerful returns. But as the match progressed, Paolini effectively used the court and broke back to level the score at 4-4.
Serving at 4-5 down, Gauff had a game drastically different from her first. She committed two consecutive double faults, giving Paolini triple set point. Gauff then lost her serve at love after a backhand error.
Paolini was in excellent form on Saturday. She hit 20 winners, eight more than Gauff, and was almost perfect at the net, securing her first Top 10 victory of the year.
“I think I played aggressively and consistently, with very few mistakes,” Paolini said afterwards. “I think I played a great match in the end.”
“When I`m on the court and hitting the ball hard, that`s what makes me enjoy tennis. I like to hit the ball with power. It brings me joy.”
