The tennis world’s number one, Aryna Sabalenka, had a rather extraordinary start to her fourth-round match in Indian Wells. The Belarusian ace was issued a code violation mere minutes into her showdown with the British third seed, Sonay Kartal. Despite her lack of familiarity with Kartal’s playing style, she soon found her footing, simultaneously offering assistance to repair the court net and seeking a video review.
Sabalenka, unaware of the capabilities of her adversary, who entered the tournament as a “lucky loser,” experienced a shaky start. The top seed’s performance was marred by a code violation for a verbal outburst, issued by the umpire right after she lost the first game. However, Sabalenka quickly recovered her poise and managed to equalise the score.
The match took an even more peculiar turn when Sabalenka found herself assisting in repairing the court net. The incident occurred after a ball she hit unlatched the net in the middle of the court. Sabalenka then requested a video assistant referee (VAR) review to ascertain whether the dislodged net had any impact on her play.
Kartal, ranked 83rd globally, had her career’s most challenging game on Wednesday when she faced the top seed and three-time Grand Slam champion. However, she didn’t let the nerves get to her and made an impressive start by breaking Sabalenka in the initial game. Sabalenka’s frustration was palpable, leading to her receiving an immediate warning.
Adam Fielder, the Sky Sports commentator, remarked, “Sabalenka maybe just feeling a little bit rattled as well because she’s just picked up a code violation for an audible obscenity already.” However, the Belarusian quickly regained control and equalised the score.
The game’s fourth round witnessed some drama as Sabalenka’s shot disrupted the net. The world’s top player didn’t hesitate to help correct the issue. She then sought a VAR review to determine if the incident had hindered her point.
The umpire concluded that the net was dislodged only after the rally ended, and Kartal was awarded the point. Despite this setback, Sabalenka revived her form, winning her third consecutive game and continued her winning spree, breaking for the third time to serve for the set. She managed to pull off six successive games, taking the set 6-1, despite her initial stumble, also saving another break point.
Before their face-off, Sabalenka had confessed her unfamiliarity with Kartal. “I never play her before, and not like I saw a lot of matches of her, but I’m sure that my team will prepare some highlights of her. We’ll watch some of her games,” the 26-year-old had shared.
On learning that Kartal grew up and trained in Brighton, and thus, was accustomed to Indian Wells’ windy conditions, Sabalenka had responded in jest, “Are you trying to put some pressure on me right now or what?”
Despite a rather unconventional beginning, Sabalenka’s match at Indian Wells serves as a testament to her resilience and adaptability, traits that have contributed to her rise in the world of tennis.
