Aryna Sabalenka photographs disputed ball mark during Stuttgart
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka receives code violation after taking photo of contested call in win over Mertens.
In a tense moment during her Stuttgart Open quarter-final against Elise Mertens, Aryna Sabalenka reacted to a disputed line call by borrowing a mobile phone from her team to photograph the ball mark. The incident occurred after umpire Miriam Bley confirmed an “out” call that awarded Mertens a break at 4-3 in the first set. Sabalenka’s action led to a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. Nevertheless, she regained composure to win the match 6-4, 6-1.
Post-match, Sabalenka noted the tension with the umpire, stating, “when I gave her a handshake there was a very interesting look and a very strong handshake, never had it before.” Asked if she had returned the pressure in the handshake, Sabalenka said: “No, it’s okay, why would I play this game with someone like her?”
In the semi-finals, Sabalenka is set to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-3.
Also in the tournament, Jelena Ostapenko continued her dominance over Iga Swiatek, defeating the Polish star 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the quarter-finals. This victory extends Ostapenko’s perfect record against Swiatek to 5-0.
Additionally, Ekaterina Alexandrova delivered a significant upset by defeating No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in just 65 minutes. Alexandrova’s performance included 19 winners and eight aces, contributing to her fourth Top 10 victory of the season.
Inside the Baseline…
Aryna Sabalenka making the decision to photograph the ball mark reveals the high stakes and emotions in professional tennis. While her actions broke rules, they highlight the ongoing debates about officiating and the pressures athletes face. As technology becomes more integrated into sports, such incidents may prompt discussions on enhancing review systems to support more fairness, but instances like this with close calls being disputed is part of the game and always has been.
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