Arina Sabalenka, the world's second-ranked tennis player, secured a hard-fought victory over Kazakhstan's top tennis player, Yelena Rybakina, in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters (1:6, 7:5, 7:6).
Sabalenka ended Rybakina's 16-match winning streak on clay, including the previous season. She attributed her victory over the Kazakh player to the support of the fans.
"In all honesty, today, if it weren't for the fans, I probably would have left the court after losing 1:6, 1:6, and I would have been very sad. Because I felt all the support and heard someone shouting, 'We want to see you on Saturday,' it really motivated me at that moment. I felt like I had to fight. I had to try my best. If not, then not. If yes, then I would be the happiest person," Sabalenka said after the match.
In the final of the Madrid clay court tournament, Sabalenka will defend her championship title against the world's number one player from Poland, Iga Swiatek, who defeated the 20th-ranked player from the USA, Madison Keys, in the semi-finals with a score of 6:1, 6:3.
Last year in the Madrid final, Sabalenka defeated Swiatek in three sets with a score of 6:3, 3:6, 6:3.
Next week, Yelena Rybakina will compete in the WTA-1000 category tournament in Rome, where she will aim to defend her title from last year.
