Aryna Sabalenka confirmed that everything was fine with her physically after a Stuttgart final moment that left some of her fans concerned.
In the second set of her straight-set defeat 4-6 1-6 to Jelena Ostapenko, the Belarusian tennis star fell to the ground and stayed for a bit. After that moment, she didn't win a single game in the rest of the final.
During a post-final press conference, a reporter remembered that moment and wanted to know whether Sabalenka dealt with any injuries during the final or anything like that. Answering the question, the 26-year-old funnily confirmed that everything was okay and that she just wanted "a chill moment" on the court.
"I just wanted to rest a little bit. I was too tired, and I was just having a chill moment there (smiling). No, no, I'm okay. I know how to fall without injury, so I'm okay. Thank you (smiling)," the world No. 1 explained.
Sabalenka doesn't think the Stuttgart final loss will impact her in Madrid
After arriving in Stuttgart for her opening tournament of the clay season, the Belarusian – who lost three consecutive finals at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix between 2021 and 2023 – didn't hide that she badly wanted to finally get over the hump at the tournament. In the end, she came close but once again fell just short.
"Well, I mean, I lost in several tough finals, and the only way is to have, like, a short memory, completely forget what happened. I mean, of course learn the lesson and then move on. That's my plan, and I'll try my best to, first of all, perform much better in Madrid, and secondly, to come back here next year and do a better job," Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka is the top seed in Madrid and she will meet a qualifier in the second round. If you are wondering how a qualifiers, two qualifiers will face off in Madrid and the winner of that match meets the Belarusian next.
