World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka (24) corrected Anastasia Potapova (22) 6-1, 6-2 in less than an hour of play to qualify for the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart on Saturday.
For the start of the women’s clay season in Europe, Sabalenka will face in the final the Polish Iga Swiatek (N.1 in the world) or the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (N.4), who face each other in the second semi-final.
The winner of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament at the end of January, will try against one of them to win the 13th WTA tournament of her career, she who remains on two defeats in the final on the clay court of Stuttgart, beaten each time by the world N.1 of the moment, the Australian Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and Swiatek in 2022. Faced with Potapova (N.24 world), who hung in Stuttgart the scalps of the American Coco Gauff (N.6), in the round of 16, and the French Caroline Garcia (N.5) in the quarters, Sabalenka did not have to force her talent. “It was a big match, with a good level. I had never played against her,” she commented with a smile after the game.
