STUTTGART/WASHINGTON, April 22, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has navigated her way into her second straight Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title match. The defending champion will face World No. 2 and three-time finalist Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a highly-anticipated rematch of last year’s final.
While it isn’t a complete surprise that the top-seeded Swiatek is back in the Stuttgart final, vying for the opportunity to win another Porsche sports car that goes to the tournament champion, the circumstances that made it possible were upsetting for the Polish star. That’s because Swiatek’s opponent, World No. 4 and third seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, was forced to retire from Saturday’s second semifinal match while trailing Swiatek 3-0 in the first set due to a left calf injury.
Iga Swiatek advances to the final after Ons Jabeur retires due to injury.
Final score: 3-0.#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/teI5gfRCeU
— wta (@WTA) April 22, 2023
Jabeur injured herself after chasing down a ball on the final point of the opening game of the second semifinal. She called a medical time out to receive treatment on her calf. Soon after, Jabeur was unable to soldier on. Her ability to both serve and move about the court was hampered by her injury.
At the conclusion of their abbreviated 18-minute match – the sixth career meeting between the two Top-5 talents and decorated rivals – there was plenty of compassion shown by Swiatek as she came over to console Jabeur at her bench. The Tunisian simply couldn’t continue after injuring her left calf, which was heavily wrapped. The two competitors shared a warm hug and shook hands.
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) April 22, 2023
“I’m sorry you guys, I really tried,” Jabeur said in a brief on-court interview, fighting back tears. “The third point … I don’t know what happened. I was really excited to play Iga today. It’s always a fun match-up between us. I wish her the best of luck for the finals.
“I’m sorry guys, I really tried to run, but Iga never makes it easy. Thank you for coming. See you next time in Stuttgart.”
Hope to see you next year in Stuttgart, again! 😢💔#porschetennis #PTGP23 pic.twitter.com/m2jCvwyscn
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) April 22, 2023
Swiatek said that while she didn’t know the extent of Jabeur’s injury, she was proud of her competitor’s fighting spirit. “I really respect the fact that she came out and she tried and she wanted to see how it’s going to go,” she said.
“I told her we’re probably going to play the Roland Garros final, so we’ll see each other there. She’s a fighter, so she’s going to be back quick. I just hope it’s nothing serious.”
The loss ended a seven-match win streak for Jabeur after she won her fourth career title at Charleston earlier this month. Meanwhile, Swiatek remains undefeated in Stuttgart (7-0) after winning last year’s title over Sabalenka, 6-2, 6-2. She will be going after her sixth career title on clay Sunday and will be trying to be the first player to defend the title at Stuttgart since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
🎾✍️@iga_swiatek, the defending champ, met with some of her fans after making it BACK into the @PorscheTennis final! pic.twitter.com/NBe5Xilhas
— wta (@WTA) April 22, 2023
Sabalenka advances to third straight Stuttgart title match
In the opening semifinal, Sabalenka reached her third straight Stuttgart final by playing powerful tennis from first ball to last ball. The No. 2 seed outmatched No. 24 Anastasia Potapova of Russia, 6-1, 6-2, in 58 minutes. The reigning Australian Open champion saved all three break points she faced while breaking her Russian opponent four times in five tries.
“I think I was really focused, and I think from the very first point I was playing really aggressive,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. “I didn’t give her much time. I think that’s why the match finished like that quick. But anyway, she’s a great player, and I think in the future she’s going to be a top player.”
All business 💼@SabalenkaA locks in her 23rd win of the year in commanding fashion!#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/WFEZO5dWeJ
— wta (@WTA) April 22, 2023
Sabalenka set up match point with her third ace and finished with 28 winners to 19 unforced errors while outpointing Potapova 59-34. Potapova was seeking her third straight Top 10 win this week, after having upset World No. 6 Coco Gauff in the second round on Thursday and World No. 5 Caroline Garcia in Friday’s quarterfinal round to reach her first WTA 500-level semifinal.
In the past two years, Sabalenka lost in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix finals to a pair of World No. 1 players – in 2021 to Ashleigh Barty and last year to Swiatek. Now, she will play her third straight Stuttgart final against a No. 1 opponent.
“Last year, I was struggling a lot with a lot of things, especially my serve,” Sabalenka admitted. “This year, I feel like a different player, different person right now. So, I feel I’m much calmer on court.”
Defending doubles champs Krawczyk and Schuurs reach another Stuttgart final
Defending doubles champions Desirae Krawczyk of the United States and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands advanced to their second straight Stuttgart final with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Alexa Guarachi Mathison of Chile and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand.
The No. 2 seeds, who have dropped just one set this week, hit 31 winners, made just 14 unforced errors and converted four of five break-point chances. They outscored their opponents 65-43 en route to their 10th victory in 16 outings this season.
First doubles finalist 💪
The No.2 seeds @desiraekrawczyk and Demi Schuurs are into the @PorscheTennis final! pic.twitter.com/V4D4UXYT3D
— wta (@WTA) April 22, 2023
In Sunday’s title match, Krawczyk and Schuurs, who have won seven straight matches in Stuttgart, will play No. 3 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Guiliana Olmos of Mexico, who defeated Russian pair Veronika Kudermetova and Anastasia Potapova, 6-4, 7-6 (2).
Saturday’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix results
Sunday’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix order of play
By the numbers
• A year ago, Anastasia Potapova of Russia was ranked No. 122. Since then, she has improved her ranking 98 places, which has included winning her first WTA Tour-level title at Linz and reaching back-to-back semifinals at Miami and Stuttgart. Potapova came into Saturday’s semifinal with an 18-8 win-loss record this season.
• Aryna Sabalenka is now the first player on the WTA Tour to reach four finals this season. She has won titles at the Adelaide International. 1 and Australian Open and finished runner-up to Elena Rybakina last month at Indian Wells.
Stuttgart First player on Tour to reach four finals in 2023 😃
Adelaide 1 (champion)
Australian Open (champion)
Indian Wells (finalist)
Stuttgart pic.twitter.com/zEyYREiKkq— wta (@WTA) April 22, 2023
“Quotable …”
“Well, I’m happy, you know, with everything, honestly, even, you know, yesterday’s match, even though the beginning wasn’t easy, I just, second set and third set I played much better and I improved then. That was a great experience to have. First one against Karolina as well.
“I’m just happy that I can play good tennis, even though I wasn’t practicing a lot and even though my break was pretty long. I’m happy that I could just be here and enjoy this. Honestly, I have only positive thoughts.”
– World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland, on looking back at her week in Stuttgart following a 45-day injury layoff.
