The 2025 Madrid Open quarterfinal between Aryna Sabalenka and Marta Kostyuk was more than a clash of tennis titans—it was a fiery spectacle that ignited debates about sportsmanship and fair play. The match, a grueling two-hour-and-32-minute battle, ended with Sabalenka’s 7-6(4), 7-6(7) victory, but it was a controversial moment in the second-set tiebreak that stole the spotlight. Kostyuk, the 22-year-old Ukrainian star, has since unleashed a scathing critique of Sabalenka’s actions, calling the world No. 1’s explanation “absurd” and accusing her of deliberately bending the rules to gain an edge.
The drama unfolded under the Madrid night sky as light rain began to fall during a critical juncture in the second-set tiebreak, with Kostyuk leading 5-4. Sabalenka, trailing and facing a second serve after missing her first, approached chair umpire Jennifer Zhang to request a pause due to the drizzle. Zhang ruled that the rain wasn’t severe enough to halt play, instructing Sabalenka to continue. Defiant, Sabalenka returned to the baseline, tossed the ball, but refused to serve, citing rain in her eyes. “She was waiting for five minutes to serve! And then she started to serve again—how is this possible?” Kostyuk fumed to the umpire, her frustration palpable. The match was eventually paused to close the Manolo Santana Stadium roof, and upon resumption, Sabalenka was controversially awarded a first serve—a decision that left Kostyuk livid.
Kostyuk’s anger stemmed from her belief that Sabalenka’s actions were calculated. “She stopped by herself—nobody stopped her,” Kostyuk protested, arguing that Sabalenka had ample opportunity to serve but chose to halt play unilaterally. The Ukrainian’s ire intensified when Sabalenka later admitted her intent. “What’s most absurd is that she later admitted in an interview that she did it on purpose to avoid a double fault,” Kostyuk revealed in a post-match interview, her voice dripping with disbelief. Sabalenka, for her part, defended her decision, stating, “Serving while the rain was falling was impossible. I tried with the first serve, but I realized that I had to stop because the water was getting into my eyes. I’m glad I did it.” Yet, this explanation only fueled Kostyuk’s accusations of gamesmanship.
The incident wasn’t just a fleeting moment of tension—it reignited longstanding friction between the two players. Their history, marked by Kostyuk’s criticism of Sabalenka’s silence on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, added a deeper layer of animosity. At the 2023 French Open, Kostyuk’s refusal to shake hands with Sabalenka, a Belarusian, drew boos from the crowd, and the Madrid match saw no handshake either, a gesture rooted in the ongoing geopolitical tensions. “She is never winning a sportsman’s award, that’s for sure,” Kostyuk was overheard telling her team during the rain delay, a sharp jab at Sabalenka’s conduct.
The tennis world has been abuzz with divided opinions. Some fans and analysts argue Sabalenka exploited a loophole, with one observer noting, “Players should not be able to unilaterally decide when to pause play after official instructions to continue.” Others side with Sabalenka, citing the challenging conditions and her right to prioritize safety. The controversy has cast a shadow over Sabalenka’s otherwise stellar Madrid campaign, where she went on to face Elina Svitolina in the semifinals, carrying a 4-1 head-to-head lead.
For Kostyuk, the incident remains a sore point as she prepares to face Sabalenka again in Rome. “We considered reaching out to the WTA,” she said, hinting at discussions with her team about seeking clarification. “No matter what the rules say, it’s nearly impossible to challenge the chair umpire’s call in real time—it all happens in a split second.” Despite her frustration, Kostyuk remains focused, expressing confidence that Rome’s slower conditions will favor her game. “Aryna will have to cover more court because the rallies here will be longer,” she predicted, eyeing a chance to settle the score.
The Madrid controversy has not only amplified the Kostyuk-Sabalenka rivalry but also raised broader questions about umpiring consistency and player conduct in high-stakes moments. As the tennis world awaits their Rome rematch, the echoes of Madrid’s rain-soaked drama linger, promising more fireworks on and off the court.
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