World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has returned to the WTA Stuttgart Open in search of a long-awaited title—but her 2025 campaign is off to an unusual start.
Despite arriving at the event determined to lift the trophy and finally win the coveted Porsche prize, Sabalenka has yet to play a single match and won’t step onto the court until Saturday.
Chasing the Stuttgart Title
Sabalenka’s history at the Stuttgart Open has been frustratingly consistent—three finals, three defeats. She lost to then-No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in 2021, followed by back-to-back losses to Iga Swiatek in 2022 and 2023. A quarter-final exit to Marketa Vondrousova in 2024 only fueled her motivation.
“I want to finally win the Porsche this year,” said Sabalenka. “I lost three finals here against No. 1s, so I thought: ‘Okay, I have to do it. I have to come back here as the world No. 1.’”
Why the Delay?
Sabalenka, as the top seed in the 28-player draw, received a first-round bye, automatically placing her in the second round. She was set to face Anastasia Potapova, who advanced with a gritty win over Clara Tauson—saving a match point in the process.
However, Potapova was forced to withdraw due to injury, and WTA rules don’t allow a replacement (a lucky loser) to be inserted once a player has already advanced past round one with a bye. As a result, Sabalenka received a walkover directly into the quarter-finals.
Adding to the delay is a local regulation: April 18 is Good Friday, a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, the German state where Stuttgart is located. No professional sporting events can take place on that day, which pauses the tournament for 24 hours.
This means Sabalenka, having not played between Monday and Friday, must now win three matches in three days—Saturday’s quarter-final, Sunday’s semi-final, and Monday’s final—if she hopes to finally capture the title.
“It’s a bit awkward,” she admitted. “But I messaged [Potapova] to check in, and we’ve adjusted the practice and gym schedule.”
Next Opponent: Elise Mertens
Sabalenka will face Elise Mertens in the quarter-finals. Mertens, a former doubles partner, earned her spot with impressive straight-set wins over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and eighth seed Diana Shnaider.
The two will meet on Saturday in what is sure to be a high-intensity match as Sabalenka looks to make up for lost time on court.
Read Next: [Why leading Stuttgart contenders face a rare Monday final at WTA 500 event]
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