In a electrifying quarterfinal clash at the 2025 Madrid Open, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka found herself at the center of a firestorm that ignited fierce debate across the tennis world. Her controversial decision during a critical moment against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk not only secured her a hard-fought victory but also sparked a heated confrontation, a scathing remark from her opponent, and a tidal wave of fan reactions. Sabalenka’s revelation about the true reason behind her actions has since added fuel to an already blazing controversy, peeling back the layers of a match that was as much about mental warfare as it was about tennis prowess.
The stage was set on April 30, 2025, at the Manolo Santana Stadium, where Sabalenka and Kostyuk locked horns in a grueling battle that lasted over two and a half hours. The match was a rollercoaster, with both players trading blows in a tightly contested first set that Sabalenka clinched 7-6(4) after saving a set point. The second set was equally intense, with Kostyuk pushing Sabalenka to the brink, forcing a tiebreak. As the score reached 5-4 in Kostyuk’s favor in the second-set tiebreak, the atmosphere was electric—until a sudden twist turned the match into a spectacle of drama.
Rain began to fall, lightly at first, as Sabalenka prepared to serve. After missing her first serve, she abruptly halted her service motion, citing the worsening conditions. She approached chair umpire Jennifer Zhang, insisting that the rain was impairing her vision and making it “impossible” to serve. Despite Zhang’s initial assertion that play could continue, Sabalenka refused to proceed, walking back to her bench as the crowd murmured and Kostyuk’s frustration boiled over. The umpire, left with little choice, paused the match to close the stadium’s roof, a decision that would have far-reaching consequences.
When play resumed, Sabalenka was controversially allowed to retake her first serve, a ruling that Kostyuk vehemently protested. The Ukrainian, who had been on the cusp of forcing a third set, argued that Sabalenka’s unilateral decision to stop play after missing her first serve was unfair and disrupted her momentum. Kostyuk’s heated exchange with Zhang was captured courtside, with the 24th seed visibly exasperated. In a moment of raw candor, she turned to her team and declared, “She [Sabalenka] is never winning a sportsman’s award, that’s for sure,” a biting remark that echoed across social media and fueled the controversy.
Kostyuk’s frustration was palpable. She later won the point on Sabalenka’s serve and even earned two set points at 6-4, but Sabalenka, undeterred, clawed her way back, saving three set points to seal a 7-6(7) victory. The match ended without a handshake, as Kostyuk, consistent with her stance against players from Russia and Belarus amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, left the court without acknowledging her opponent. This gesture added another layer of tension to an already charged encounter, highlighting the deeper personal and geopolitical undercurrents at play.
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In her post-match press conference, Sabalenka addressed the controversy head-on, offering a candid explanation for her actions. “Oh my God…! Serving while the rain was falling was impossible,” she said, as quoted by Punto de Break. “I tried with the first serve, but I realized that I had to stop because the water was getting into my eyes. It was impossible. I knew I was going to double fault, and I didn’t want that to happen, so I decided that the game couldn’t continue. I’m glad I did it.” Her words suggested a practical decision driven by the conditions, but they did little to quell the skepticism of fans and analysts who saw the move as a tactical ploy to disrupt Kostyuk’s rhythm.
Sabalenka’s explanation divided the tennis community. Some defended her, noting that the umpire ultimately agreed the rain had intensified, validating her concerns. A fan on X wrote, “Even the umpire agreed that Sabalenka was right to stop. During the conversation with Kostyuk, she admitted that the rain was coming down harder.” Others, however, were less forgiving, accusing Sabalenka of gamesmanship. “Sabalenka knew what she was doing when she missed the first serve. She’s a 🤡,” one fan posted, while another labeled her actions “embarrassingly weak,” suggesting she intentionally broke Kostyuk’s momentum at a pivotal moment
The incident was not an isolated flare-up but rather a culmination of existing tensions between Sabalenka and Kostyuk. Their rivalry has been marked by strained interactions, particularly since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. In 2023, Kostyuk publicly criticized Sabalenka, stating, “She said that I hate her,” a comment that underscored their frosty relationship. Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players, including Sabalenka, has been a consistent expression of her stance against the invasion of her homeland, adding a poignant backdrop to their Madrid clash.
The match itself was a testament to their competitive parity. Sabalenka, the top seed and a two-time Madrid Open champion (2021, 2023), faced a formidable challenge from Kostyuk, ranked World No. 36. The Ukrainian’s resilience was evident as she saved a match point and broke Sabalenka’s serve to force the second-set tiebreak. Despite the loss, Kostyuk later took to social media to express gratitude to her supporters, writing, “Heart full today, and it’s all because of you. Yesterday’s match tested everything—focus, resilience, patience. I gave it my all, and while the result wasn’t in my favor, your support reminded me why I love this sport.”
Sabalenka’s victory propelled her into the semifinals, where she defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-5, before facing Coco Gauff in the final on May 3, 2025. Her performance in Madrid, where she dropped only one set en route to the final, reaffirmed her dominance on clay and her status as a favorite for the title. Yet, the controversy with Kostyuk cast a shadow over her campaign, with fans and pundits debating the ethics of her decision. Some praised her mental toughness, while others, like Kostyuk, questioned her sportsmanship.
Off the court, Sabalenka received support from her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, who celebrated her “crazy” win on social media. The Belarusian, known for her fiery personality and relentless competitiveness, appeared unfazed by the backlash, focusing instead on her pursuit of a third Madrid Open crown. However, the incident has sparked broader discussions about the rules governing rain delays and player-initiated stoppages, with calls for clearer guidelines to prevent similar disputes.
The Sabalenka-Kostyuk quarterfinal will be remembered not just for its high-quality tennis but for the drama that unfolded under the Madrid rain. Sabalenka’s decision to halt play, justified by her as a necessity, was seen by Kostyuk and many fans as a calculated move to shift the match’s momentum. Her candid revelation about the “impossible” conditions has only intensified the debate, leaving the tennis world divided. As Sabalenka continues her quest for glory, this controversy serves as a reminder of the fine line between strategy and sportsmanship in the high-stakes arena of professional tennis—a line that, for better or worse, she has boldly crossed.
