Aryna Sabalenka says there are definitely players that use medical timeouts to distract opponents but noted Ons Jabeur wasn’t doing that in their Cincinnati match. During their Cincinnati quarterfinal match, Jabeur called a medical timeout and got her right foot tapped.
Jabeur was able to play the match until the end but Sabalenka won 7-5 6-3. After the match, Sabalenka offered empathy for Jabeur, who is seemingly struggling with a foot injury just before the US Open.”Yeah, I mean, it can be distracting.
But sometimes players do that for a reason, to get you distracted. But I saw that she struggled a lot. She didn’t play that good. She didn’t move. I mean, I was just like just finishing the match, yeah,” Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka beats Jabeur but then loses to Karolina Muchova
After beating Jabeur, Sabalenka suffered a tight Cincinnati semifinal loss as Muchova beat the Belarusian 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-2.
“Similar to what we played a few months back in Paris I would say … it could go both ways. t was just pure fight. I’m glad that I got through. Yeah, to be in my first 1000 final, it’s a great achievement, and I’m really pleased with that,” Muchova said after the match.By beating Sabalenka, Muchova – who entered the week ranked at No 17 in the world – ensured a top-10 spot for the first time in her career on Monday.”I think I was even outside of 200 end of the last year, so it’s incredible.
I mean, I always was hoping and believing that I can be up there, but you never know. In the past, my health was a big issue. It always stopped me. Yeah, I’m just really, really pleased how it’s going. To be in top 10, I can say it for the rest of my life that I was a top 10 tennis player from all of the people. It’s a great achievement,” Muchova said.
