By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, April 26, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka’s Madrid matches have grow to be must-see TV.
At the moment, defending Madrid champion Sabalenka survived a three-set take a look at from Maga Linette in her Madrid opener and clarified her tennis tv viewing habits.
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Earlier this week, Sabalenka sparked some social media debate saying she prefers watching males’s tennis greater than ladies’s tennis.
At the moment, the two-time Australian Open champion contextualized her feedback.
Sabalenka stated she does watch ladies’s tennis, primarily to scout opponents, however prefers watching males’s tennis as a result of it is an escape that takes her thoughts off the pressures of her job.
“I did not wish to injury ladies’s tennis, no. Hear, I imply, we’re doing our greatest and, nice, there may be numerous nice matches,” Sabalenka informed the media in Madrid. “I do not like to look at it simply because I play towards all of them, and I simply wish to sort of like change the image, and since I watch numerous ladies’s tennis earlier than I’m going to the match,
“I watch my opponents, I watch numerous girl’s tennis.”
Watching males’s tennis is extra entertaining for Sabalenka as a result of she would not have to contemplate the consequence of her personal draw.
“It isn’t like I do not prefer it, you already know, like I attempt to offend what I do, you already know. I used to be simply making an attempt to say that as a result of I am taking part in there and it is an excessive amount of for me,” Sabalenka stated. “I am simply making an attempt to look at males’s tennis. For me, it is extra enjoyable, you already know, than watching my in all probability like future opponents within the event.”
Sabalenka is making an attempt to carry off No. 3 Coco Gauff and No. 4 Elena Rybakina to retain her world No. 2 rating. Subsequent up for Sabalenka is both Twenty sixth-seeded Briton Katie Boulter or American Robin Montgomery.
Why has Sabalenka, who improved to 13-3 lifetime on the Mutua Madrid Open, so profitable on the high-bounding crimson clay?
Sabalenka stated the floor promotes her energy and town feeds her wants.
“I like Madrid. There’s lots of issues why I prefer it,” Sabalenka informed the media in Madrid. “The ambiance within the stadium is wonderful. The court docket is basically nice high quality.
“The altitude undoubtedly serving to me. The excessive bounce additionally assist me rather a lot right here. Additionally, I identical to town, numerous good eating places for me. I am working towards and I must eat good meals. It is lots of good eating places right here, so I’ve numerous good issues to do.”
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty