Madrid Open: Aryna Sabalenka Faces Huge Flak as Iga Swiatek Breaking Character With a Brutal Shade Erupts Tennis Fans

Belarusian WTA star Aryna Sabalenka hasn’t been someone who just keeps her opinions to herself. From her recent comment, the Australian Open winner seems to be a person who feels like “there is more strategy” and it’s “more interesting” to watch men’s tennis than that of women’s. Well, while it’s an absolutely personal opinion, tennis fans took it quite at heart.

During the pre-tournament press conference at the Madrid Open, Sabalenka boldly told the media – “I’m not someone who watches too much tennis, I prefer to watch men’s tennis rather than women’s tennis, I feel like there is more strategy and it’s more interesting to watch (laughs).” However, as the Madrid Open progressed, Sabalenka made it to the final and in what can be considered an ironic closure to her comments, she was involved in an epic match of sorts against Iga Swiatek in a final that lasted for more than 3 hours.

In the end, it was Iga Swiatek who prevailed against Aryna Sabalenka in the match tie-break. During the post-match interview on-court, Swiatek minced no words as she appeared to have taken a dig at Sabalenka’s words at the WTA. “Who’s going to say now that women’s tennis is boring right?”, the polish WTA star told with a straight face.

The World No. 1 is surely not wrong as the battle between her and Sabalenka will surely be ranked amongst the top matches so far this year. Also, in the context of the men’s final tomorrow, this battle between two WTA stalwarts turned exciting. For the unknown, Felix Auger-Aliassime will battle against Andrey Rublev to clinch the title in Madrid. The men’s section in Madrid was marred by injuries and withdrawals from top ATP stars and it remains to be seen if the attention from fans will sustain tomorrow as Rublev and Felix take to the Manolo Santana stadium.

Coming back to Swiatek’s comments, fans are surely of the opinion that it was indeed a dig at what Sabalenka said.

Tennis fans go gaga over Iga Swiatek’s Apparent Shade at Aryna Sabalenka after Madrid Open final

One fan wrote, “Beating Sab twice in one day”, in response to Swiatek’s words. Another one wrote, “We stan a shady queen”. While more reactions revolved around Swiatek’s apparent shade, one fan also made sure to drop the “Queen” tag on Iga by writing, “She is the moment and she is a Queen”. 

A few of them gave a cheeky smile on Iga Swiatek’s “straightforward” shade at Aryna Sabalenka. They looked quite impressed with the way the Polish tennis star responded after the grueling final match in Madrid – “Wow, straightforward Aryna shade.”

When it comes to the battle between the world number one versus the number two, there is always something more than just the on-court actions. Iga Swiatek fans want her to stand tall holding the baton for women’s tennis and encourage her to send the message clearer and louder. “Say it louder queen.”

Some of them gave a complete cold shoulder to the world number 2. As if Aryna Sabalenka doesn’t stand a chance against Iga Swiatek. However, their head-to-heads tell a different story! Iga Swiatek has taken a lead of 7-3 in their H2H records, but Aryna Sabalenka has ensured she gave a fight till the end in each of their previous meetings. But still, fans say, “Sabalenka whoooooooo???”

Leaving aside the viral off-court reaction from Iga Swiatek, both she and Sabalenka had put on an incredible display of tennis for fans to relish at the Madrid Open. With momentum shifting back and forth so quickly, there was never a favorite and it won’t be an understatement to claim that neither of the two deserve to lose this battle.

Women’s tennis is in safe hands with Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka producing top-notch tennis consistently on tour.