Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Stuttgart Quarterfinals After Dominant Debut Match
Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked as the world No. 1 in women’s tennis, made a powerful statement in her first appearance at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Despite only taking to the court for the first time during the tournament on Friday, the Belarusian star wasted no time displaying her dominance, dispatching Belgium’s Elise Mertens in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. The victory propelled her into the quarterfinal stage of the prestigious clay-court event.
Due to her top-seeded status, Sabalenka received a bye in the first round, granting her automatic passage into the round of 16. However, her progression to the quarterfinals turned out to be even smoother than expected, as her second-round opponent, Anastasia Potapova of Russia, was forced to withdraw from their scheduled match due to an injury. As a result, Sabalenka’s Stuttgart campaign began later than usual and under somewhat unconventional circumstances.
When she finally stepped onto the clay court to face the 29th-ranked Mertens, there were questions about whether the delayed start and lack of match play might affect her rhythm. Early signs suggested that she might need some time to find her groove. In the opening set, Sabalenka showed brief signs of rust, particularly in the seventh game, where she dropped her serve and momentarily gave Mertens an opportunity to seize control.
However, that brief stumble proved to be the only real opening she gave her opponent. Once Sabalenka regained her footing, she took full control of the match. From that point forward, the 26-year-old turned up the intensity and found her signature aggressive rhythm. She won nine of the next 10 games in a flurry of powerful baseline strokes and commanding service games, sealing the match in just one hour and 20 minutes.
Speaking after her win, Sabalenka expressed relief and satisfaction at finally getting her tournament underway. She acknowledged the unusual nature of her path to the quarterfinals but maintained a positive and humorous attitude about it.
“Yeah, that’s a bit awkward,” she said with a smile, referring to the walkover she received in the previous round. “But I was worried about her [Potapova], I wanted to make sure everything was okay. I sent her a message to check in and figure out what was going on. At the same time, I was like, ‘What are you doing to me?’ My next match is only on Saturday now. It’s a bit strange, but we adjusted the practice schedule and added in more gym time. I just had to keep myself prepared mentally and physically.”
While the delayed start may have disrupted her usual tournament routine, it didn’t prevent Sabalenka from showcasing the form that has taken her to the top of the WTA rankings. With powerful serving, relentless groundstrokes, and improved movement on clay, she looked every bit the tournament favorite in her win over Mertens.
Sabalenka’s victory sets up a semifinal clash against either Coco Gauff or Jasmine Paolini, who are set to face each other for a spot in the final four. Whoever she faces next, the world No. 1 will be determined to take one step closer to a title that has thus far eluded her—despite multiple deep runs at the event.
From 2021 to 2023, Sabalenka reached three consecutive finals in Stuttgart but fell short each time. In 2021, she was defeated by Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, while in 2022 and 2023, she ran into Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who bested her in back-to-back title matches. Notably, all three of her Stuttgart final opponents were world No. 1 at the time.
Reflecting on those previous disappointments, Sabalenka expressed hope that her current standing at the top of the rankings might turn the tide in her favor.
“I think in all those finals, the common theme was I played against the world No. 1,” she said. “So maybe now that I’m the one ranked No. 1, it will help me finally win this tournament. That’s the goal, anyway.”
Sabalenka’s optimism is not unfounded. Since ascending to the top of the WTA rankings, she has carried herself with the poise and confidence of a champion. The 2023 Australian Open winner has continued to perform at a high level across surfaces, and her powerful style of play is well-suited to Stuttgart’s indoor clay courts, which tend to play faster than outdoor clay courts like those in Paris or Rome.
Despite the laughter and light-hearted moments off the court, Sabalenka remains intensely focused on the task at hand. The Stuttgart title has become something of a white whale for her—a goal she has been chasing for years but has not yet conquered. Now, armed with the confidence that comes from holding the top ranking, she seems more prepared than ever to change that narrative.
Elise Mertens, for her part, put up a solid fight in the opening set, capitalizing on some of Sabalenka’s early inconsistency. But once the Belarusian settled in, the gap in power and consistency became clear. Mertens struggled to match Sabalenka’s intensity and was unable to create opportunities to get back into the match once it slipped from her grasp.
With one dominant performance now under her belt and the semifinal looming, Sabalenka is in a strong position to continue her Stuttgart campaign. Whether it’s the young American star Coco Gauff or Italy’s Jasmine Paolini across the net in the semifinal, she knows the challenges will only increase from here.
Still, if her performance against Mertens is any indication, Sabalenka is ready for whatever lies ahead. And with three consecutive runner-up finishes behind her, she’s more motivated than ever to finally claim the Stuttgart crown.
“I’ve been close so many times here,” she said. “This tournament means a lot to me. The fans, the atmosphere, the court—it’s a special place. I just want to go one step further this time and lift that trophy.”
As she gears up for the next chapter of her Stuttgart journey, Aryna Sabalenka remains a formidable force—one that’s determined to turn past heartbreak into triump
