It’s a busy Saturday schedule in Stuttgart as Aryna Sabalenka finally gets her campaign underway while Iga Swiatek aims to finally beat Jelena Ostapenko.
After there being no play on Friday as the tournament took the day off due to Good Friday, play resumes on Saturday with a busy quarter-final programme.
In the top half of the draw world number one Aryna Sabalenka will finally get her Stuttgart campaign underway.
Sabalenka received a first round BYE before Anastasia Potapova withdrew from their second round contest and the top seed has explained how she has adapted to the strange week so far, “I was worried if everything is OK with her,” Sabalenka recited to the WTA website about Potapova’s withdrawal.
“So I messaged her and I figured out the situation. I was like, `What are you doing to me? My next match is on Saturday.’ Yeah, that’s a bit awkward. But we adjusted a little bit of practice schedule, and I guess that’s gym time for me.”
Sabalenka is chasing a first Stuttgart title after losing her previous three finals to world number one players.
Now Sabalenka returns to the German city as world number one and spoke about her form heading into the tournament and her bid for a first title.
“I feel good and can’t wait to start playing on clay,” Sabalenka said to the WTA earlier in the week.
“I lost three finals against World No. 1s. So I was like, `OK, I have to do it. I have to come back here as World No. 1. Maybe that’s the deal. Of course I have it in mind. It was three tough matches. I’ll keep it in mind as a motivation. If I make it to the finals, I’ll be hungry as ever, and I’ll be focused as never before.”
The three-time finalist will begin her campaign against Elise Mertens at not before 17:00 local time.
Swiatek Aims To Eliminate Ostapenko Curse
However before Sabalenka can take to court, it will be the turn of former champion Iga Swiatek as she takes on Jelena Ostapenko.
It’s a match-up that has been a nightmare for the Pole in the past as she has lost all five meetings including a 6-3 6-1 hammering in Doha in February.
Speaking earlier in the week Swiatek feels like she is in the right mindset heading into the clay court season, “It’s not like I come to play and everything is perfect suddenly,” the Pole explained to the WTA website.
“We play on a hard court most of the year, so coming to clay court I still need some time to adjust to. But for sure I feel like I’m in the right place.”
The other quarter-finals will see Ekaterina Alexandrova take on Jessica Pegula while Jasmine Paolini faces Coco Gauff.
The action kicks off at 12:30 local time.
