World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has acknowledged the significant challenge posed by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in their Madrid WTA 1000 semifinal clash. Sabalenka, competing under a neutral flag, defeated the 36th-ranked Ukrainian 6:3, 7:5 in just over 90 minutes of intense play.
'Svitolina is difficult to beat, it was a very tough battle,' Sabalenka admitted in a post-match interview. 'She forces you to fight for every point. To defeat her, you need to play your best tennis. Winning against her gives you great confidence and shows you're in good form.'
The semifinal saw Svitolina convert two break points, but she lost her own serve three times, ultimately proving decisive in the outcome. This victory marks Sabalenka's fifth win in six career encounters against the Ukrainian star.
Despite this defeat, Svitolina's recent form has been remarkable. She has joined an elite group as only the fourth player in the 21st century to win 11 consecutive matches on clay courts. According to Statbet analysis, such a winning streak across three consecutive tournaments demonstrates exceptional consistency that few players have matched on this surface.
Svitolina's impressive run began in mid-April and has spanned three tournaments, establishing her as one of the form players on clay despite this setback against the world number one.
The semifinal followed a controversial quarterfinal match where Sabalenka faced Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, another match that generated attention both for the tennis and events surrounding it.
