“She just wanted an exit door” – Andy Roddick gives brutal verdict on Aryna Sabalenka’s opponent’s intentions after Berlin Open controversy

On June 19, 2025, former US Open champion Andy Roddick delivered a scathing assessment of Rebeka Masarova’s actions during her second-round match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Berlin Ladies Open, accusing her of seeking “an exit door” by requesting a match suspension, per Sportskeeda. The match, which Sabalenka led 6-2 in the first set, was halted after Masarova, ranked No. 112, complained about slippery court conditions due to wet grass, prompting a heated exchange with Sabalenka and officials, per Pro Football Network. Roddick, on Tennis Channel, claimed Masarova’s move was strategic, stating, “She just wanted the exit door because what was happening out there favored Masarova zero,” and noted the decision disrupted the tournament schedule, per.

Sabalenka, visibly frustrated, argued she had played on the same side without issue, sarcastically giving Masarova a thumbs-up and saying, “You’re stopping the match because she said it’s slippery? She’s just losing the match,” per EssentiallySports. Roddick admitted to using similar tactics once at Wimbledon, confessing, “I walked off the court… purely because I didn’t want to play another set,” but called Masarova’s actions “wrong,” per. Former pro CoCo Vandeweghe also criticized the call, noting it favored Masarova over the top seed, per. The match resumed on June 20, with Sabalenka securing a 6-2, 7-6(6) victory, advancing to face Elena Rybakina, per Daily Mail. Posts on X, like @TrackerTennis, echoed Roddick’s verdict, amplifying the controversy, per.