Madrid Open: Why Is Aryna Sabalenka Embraced by Scores of Fans in Spain? Exploring Her Chances of Defending the Title

Aryna Sabalenka is having the time of her life at the Madrid Open. Coming into the event as the defending champion, she made it through to the finals yet again. However, a chunk of the credit for the same will be given to the fans who stood by her side constantly and went very aggressive on Sabalenka which motivated her to grab the win.

Playing against Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals, she found herself down in the first set 6-1. In the second set as well, things did not look good for the Belarusian beauty. However, the constant support of the fans cheered her up and she went ahead to clinch the second set to force the match into a decider. Things eventually started to change for her and she managed to bag the win in her favor. The final scoreline of the match ended 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 in her favor. Talking about the match, Sabalenka herself went ahead to admit that had it not been for the love that the fans showered on her, she would have stumbled and lost it 1-6, 1-6.

“Today, honestly, if not for the people, I probably would’ve left this court losing 6-1 6-1 and be very sad. Because I felt all the support and I heard someone screaming ‘We want to see you on Saturday’ it really motivated me at that moment. I was like I have to fight. I have to try my best. If not, then not. If yes, then I’ll be the happiest person,” said Sabalenka in the post-match conference.

Thus, while Aryna Sabalenka was on the brink of losing her match, the crowd support gave her something to cheer for. Now, multiple reasons can be stated behind the extensive fan support that she got at the Madrid Open.

Why do fans faithfully support Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open?

Aryna Sabalenka has become the fan-favorite at the Madrid Open. Other than the fact that she is the reigning champion, if Saba wins the title in 2024, it will be her 3rd victory, having won in 2021 as well. The iconic matchup between the Belarusian and former Australian player Ashleigh Barty is unforgettable.

One reason behind her loyal fan following could be Aryna Sabalenka’s sheer willpower to keep going irrespective of what she went through. Just a few weeks ago, she lost her boyfriend, which took a huge toll on her. Despite her personal loss, she did not shy away and went ahead to take part in the Miami Open.

This won the hearts of her fans and showed that she is a real warrior both on and off the tennis court. Now just one step away from regaining her title, Saba will have a real chance to repeat her 2023 heroics and clinch the title.

Does Sabalenka have a real chance of clinching the title once again in Madrid?

The chances of winning a match are always 50-50. However, coming into the final, Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to shift the momentum more towards her side. Talking about her rivalry with Iga Swiatek, the two stars have faced each other a total of 9 times out of which Swiatek has clinched 6 wins. As far as head-to-head on the clay courts is concerned, these two have met each other a total of 4 times, out of which Swiatek has won on 3 occasions.

The only time when Sabalenka was able to clinch the win was last year at the Madrid Open which allowed her to break the deadlock and finally register a win. However this year, both the stars have been solid when it comes to their clay court efforts.

While Sabalenka has a 6-1 record on clay this year, Swiatek has a 7-1 win record. While both players have shown their mettle, coming to the final, Aryna Sabalenka will have the edge over her rival and would love to close on the distance at the top!