A thrilling quarter-final match at the ASB Classic left Britain's Sonay Kartal just short of a remarkable victory. Despite a valiant effort, Kartal fell to top seed Elina Svitolina in a tightly contested three-set battle, with the final score reading 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5).
The match was a tense affair, with Kartal, ranked as Britain's No. 3, pushing Svitolina to the limit. She won a crucial second set tiebreak, setting the stage for a deciding third set in Auckland. Kartal's momentum continued as she broke Svitolina's serve in the opening game of the final set, and with a 4-2 lead, she had break point chances to extend her advantage. However, Svitolina, a former world No. 3, dug deep and fought back, forcing Kartal to serve for the match at 5-3. It was here that Svitolina broke through, seizing the initiative and ultimately claiming the victory.
"All the credit goes to Sonay. She played unbelievably well, and I truly believe she deserved the win more than me today," Svitolina graciously acknowledged post-match.
In other tennis news, Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked player, flipped the script on Madison Keys, defeating her in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the Brisbane International. This was a rematch of last year's Australian Open final, and Sabalenka was determined to change the outcome. She broke Keys' serve in five consecutive service games en route to a 6-3, 6-3 victory, showcasing her dominance.
Sabalenka, the defending Brisbane champion, will now face Karolina Muchova, who ended the 13-match winning streak of No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina. Muchova holds a favorable career head-to-head record against Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals championship last November. Sabalenka, however, remains focused on her own game, stating, "I don't care if I'm leading or losing in head-to-head meetings. My focus is on controlling my emotions, which has been a key aspect of my improvement."
The match between Sabalenka and Keys was a battle of breakpoints and momentum shifts. Both players had early chances to break serve, but it was Sabalenka who seized the initiative in the seventh game, taking a 4-3 lead and rolling from there. Keys managed to break back to open the second set, but Sabalenka's dominance on her opponent's second serve proved decisive. Keys finished the match with eight double faults and won only a third of the points on her second serve, highlighting the pressure she faced.
Sabalenka's victory over Keys was her second straight-set win in as many meetings, with the other being a dominant 6-0, 6-1 victory at Indian Wells. Since that loss at Melbourne Park almost a year ago, Sabalenka has reached the French Open final, won the U.S. Open, and finished the season as runner-up at the WTA Finals. She is determined to build on her success, stating, "I'm just trying to get some matches and wins, and get my rhythm back."
Catch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW. With the Sky Sports app, Sky Sports customers can access over 50% more live sport this year at no extra cost. Don't miss out on the excitement!
