Aryna Sabalenka left furious as Berlin Open clash against Rebeka Masarova suspended due to 'slippery' conditions
Updated 19/06/2025 at 15:59 GMT+1
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka blasted the decision to suspend her second-round match at the Berlin Open as she became embroiled in a heated row with the tournament officials. The Belarusian was leading Rebeka Masarova 6-2 when it was decided that the grass had become too slippy to continue. It means she will have to wait until Thursday to book her place in the quarter-finals.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Aryna Sabalenka was left furious after her second-round match at the Berlin Open was halted due to the on-court conditions.
The top seed had just taken the first set against Rebeka Masarova 6-2.
But she will have to wait until Thursday to see if she can seal victory, after the officials decided the court was too slippery.
Masarova had made it clear that she wanted play to be suspended, whereas an unhappy Sabalenka was keen to continue.
And the world No. 1 let her feelings be known, as she questioned the decision.
Walking away from the net in disbelief, she said: "So you're stopping the match because she said on that side it's slippery?
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"I just played two games on that side.
"She's just losing the match."
The official retorted: "You know we're not going to finish. What's the point?"
Sabalenka then returned to her bag shaking her head, before waving a sarcastic thumbs up in Masarova's direction.
The 27-year-old received a bye in the first round, so this was her first match since losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff earlier this month.
She is using the tournament as part of her preparations for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, June 30.
The Belarusian has never got past the semi-final stage at SW19, losing in the last four to Karolina Pliskova and Ons Jabeur in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
It means the grass-court event is the only Grand Slam in which she has not made the final.
Should she complete the job against world No. 112 Masarova, it could set up a blockbuster last-eight clash with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who faces qualifier Katerina Siniakova.
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