- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 562,089
- Reaction score
- 48
WTA world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka was handed a code violation for audible obscenity during her Italian Open quarterfinal clash against rising Chinese star Qinwen Zheng. The incident occurred in the early stages of the second set, as frustration mounted for the Belarusian star.
Sabalenka, who dropped the opening set 6-4 without seriously challenging Zheng, found herself trailing again after being broken in the very first game of the second set. The pressure seemed to boil over when a spectator shouted, "Come on Aryna, play tennis!" just as Sabalenka was gearing up to return Zheng’s serve.
Clearly irritated by both her performance and the heckle from the stands, Sabalenka turned toward the direction of the voice and responded with an angry "Shut the f{expletive} up," prompting the chair umpire to issue an immediate warning for audible obscenity.
The outburst highlighted Sabalenka’s growing frustration as Zheng continued to dominate the match. Known for her powerful baseline game and fiery temperament, Sabalenka struggled to find her rhythm against Zheng's aggressive play and composure under pressure.
Zheng, meanwhile, remained unfazed by the drama and maintained her focus, edging closer to a potential breakthrough title in Rome. Rome has always been a special place for Zheng, where she has produced deep runs consistently. The crowd seemed to absolutely love her and welcomed her with cheers into the semifinals.
Despite producing break points 3-4 down in the second, Sabalenka couldn't find any concrete answers to Zheng's all round performance. She went on to lose the match 6-3 in the third, getting broken in the final game of the match, ending the match with a dismal double fault.
Sabalenka meanwhile, has had a decent clay court season and will most likely attribute fatigue and mental exhaustion, for her lackluster performance. After a 9-match win streak on clay, she will look to rest up and get her body recharged before she heads to Paris for the 2025 Roland Garros.
Continue reading...
Sabalenka, who dropped the opening set 6-4 without seriously challenging Zheng, found herself trailing again after being broken in the very first game of the second set. The pressure seemed to boil over when a spectator shouted, "Come on Aryna, play tennis!" just as Sabalenka was gearing up to return Zheng’s serve.
Clearly irritated by both her performance and the heckle from the stands, Sabalenka turned toward the direction of the voice and responded with an angry "Shut the f{expletive} up," prompting the chair umpire to issue an immediate warning for audible obscenity.
The outburst highlighted Sabalenka’s growing frustration as Zheng continued to dominate the match. Known for her powerful baseline game and fiery temperament, Sabalenka struggled to find her rhythm against Zheng's aggressive play and composure under pressure.
Zheng, meanwhile, remained unfazed by the drama and maintained her focus, edging closer to a potential breakthrough title in Rome. Rome has always been a special place for Zheng, where she has produced deep runs consistently. The crowd seemed to absolutely love her and welcomed her with cheers into the semifinals.
Despite producing break points 3-4 down in the second, Sabalenka couldn't find any concrete answers to Zheng's all round performance. She went on to lose the match 6-3 in the third, getting broken in the final game of the match, ending the match with a dismal double fault.
Sabalenka meanwhile, has had a decent clay court season and will most likely attribute fatigue and mental exhaustion, for her lackluster performance. After a 9-match win streak on clay, she will look to rest up and get her body recharged before she heads to Paris for the 2025 Roland Garros.
Continue reading...
