Aryna Sabalenka felt numb after seeing Paula Badosa retire in tears their Stuttgart match as the Belarusian offered her best friend a hug and some words of support.
On Wednesday evening, world No. 2 Sabalenka started her clay season by taking on former world No. 2 Badosa in the Stuttgart round-of-16.
Although Sabalenka entered the match as the favorite – having won their past three meetings before Stuttgart – Badosa was competing extremely well and going toe-to-toe with the Belarusian. But then after two hours and 20 minutes of high-level play, Badosa was forced to retire due to a left thigh injury.
After losing the first set in a tie-break, Badosa won the following set with a 6-4 scoreline and also led 3-1 in the third set. But she took a medical timeout early in the third set, and after getting broken back and with the score being tied to three games apiece, the Spaniard played just one point in the seventh game before calling it a match.
A late night encounter ends as Badosa is forced to retire due to injury.@SabalenkaA moves into the quarterfinals, final score: 7-6(4), 4-6, 3-3.#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/GJEcjpWqwT
— wta (@WTA) April 17, 2024
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