Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided disqualification from the Wuhan Open after launching her racket in frustration during her semi-final clash with Jessica Pegula
Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided disqualification from the Wuhan Open after she hurled her racket in frustration during her match against Jessica Pegula. The WTA No. 1 lost a crucial point to the American, making the score 6-2, 4-6, 5-6 and leading to a tie-break.
The racket bounced off her bench and spiralled back towards the court, just missing a cameraman. As a result, Sabalenka quickly raised her hand in apology and received a warning from the umpire.
However, had the racket struck anyone, she would have been automatically disqualified from the tournament she has previously won three times. After her outburst, Sabalenka went on to lose the match, with Pegula clinching the third and final set 7-6 in a stunning comeback, reports the Express.
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The World No. 6 will now face fellow American, Coco Gauff, in Sunday’s grand final at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre. Before her match with Pegula, it seemed like Sabalenka was on track to win the tournament.
The 27-year-old, who secured victories at the Wuhan Open in 2018, 2019 and 2024, easily defeated Rebecca Sramkova in the round of 32, before delivering a 6-3 6-2 defeat to Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16.
She then triumphed over Elena Rybakina with a 6-3 6-3 win in the quarter finals, setting up a semi-final showdown with Pegula on Centre Court.
While Sabalenka appeared calm and collected in the first set, signs of strain began to show as she lost the second.
Sabalenka then lost a crucial point in the third set, allowing Pegula to sneak back into the tie-break, which she ultimately clinched 7-6, securing the game, set and match.
But it wasn’t just a shot at the title that Pegula snatched from Sabalenka with her victory. Going into the match, the Belarusian boasted an unbeaten streak of 20 straight-set victories at the Wuhan Open – undefeated in every edition of the tournament she had competed in.
Sunday’s grand final will likely shock tennis fans globally, given their high hopes of seeing Sabalenka reach the final. A poll on the WTA Tour’s official website reveals that 51 per cent of voters anticipated a Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini final at the Wuhan Open, while 33 per cent predicted a showdown between Sabalenka and Gauff.
Merely eight per cent of poll participants envisaged a Gauff vs Pegula final.
Despite not having any major Grand Slam titles to her name throughout her distinguished career, Pegula has bagged nine singles trophies over the years and will be aiming to make it a round 10 come Sunday.
However, she’ll face tough competition from Gauff, a 21-year-old who already boasts a decade of singles titles, as well as the 2023 US Open title and this year’s French Open crown, thanks to a victory over Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros.