(VIDEO) Aryna Sabalenka fumes as Rebeka Masarova Berlin match stopped due to slippery court complaints
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka expressed frustration when her second-round match against Rebeka Masarova at the Berlin Ladies Open was suspended due to slippery court conditions and fading light, per @TheTennisLetter. Sabalenka, leading 6-2 after dominating the first set, argued with the umpire, saying, “You’re stopping the match because she says that side is slippery? I just played two games on that side,” as Masarova requested the halt, per TennisUpToDate. The decision, influenced by wet grass and darkness, postponed the match to Thursday, June 19, not before 12:30 p.m. local time, per WTA Tennis.
Incident Details
The match, Sabalenka’s first since her French Open final loss to Coco Gauff, followed a grueling 3-hour-21-minute clash between Liudmila Samsonova and Jessica Pegula, delaying the schedule, per EssentiallySports. Masarova, ranked No. 112, cited safety concerns about the grass court’s dampness, prompting the supervisor’s call, despite Sabalenka’s insistence that the conditions were playable, per Punto de Break. A video shared by @TennisChannel captured Sabalenka’s sarcastic thumbs-up to Masarova, highlighting her agitation, per. Tennis Channel’s Nick Lester noted Berlin’s 9:30 p.m. sunset allowed potential for completion, fueling debate, per Tennis Infinity.
Reactions and Context
Sabalenka’s fiery response drew mixed sentiment. X posts, like @ThisDaeve, questioned the lack of court inspection, saying, “Masarova got her desired break?” while @berlin_tennis clarified ticket policies for the rescheduled session, per. Some, including @TennisChannel, asked if the call was fair, noting Sabalenka’s dominance, per. Masarova, a qualifier who upset Sofia Kenin, faced scrutiny for her complaint, with Sabalenka implying it was tactical after losing the set, per Devdiscourse. The incident follows Sabalenka’s recent apology to Gauff for post-French Open comments, showing her emotional intensity, per The Athletic.
Resumption and Outlook
The match resumes Thursday after the Schneider-Vondrousova clash, with the winner facing Elena Rybakina or Katerina Siniakova, per Tennis Tonic. Sabalenka, favored at 1/7 odds, remains a Wimbledon 2025 contender (+250), per The Stats Zone. The suspension, while frustrating, underscores grass-court challenges, as humidity and dew can render surfaces hazardous, per Channel News Asia. Fans await whether Sabalenka’s momentum carries forward or if Masarova capitalizes on the pause, per @FullSportivo.
