Aryna Sabalenka made sure she will have the last laugh in 2023, as she bested Iga Swiatek at the 2023 World Tennis League.
Entering the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, the Polish player was on a 12-match win streak, and even though the World Tennis League is not an official WTA or ITF tournament, Swiatek's biggest rival snapped her streak at the tournament.
On Thursday, the Pole bested Elena Rybakina despite then losing in an additional super tie-break, and after winning in doubles against Sabalenka, the world no. 1 wanted to prove her qualities in the discipline that suits her the best, the singles.
It was the third match of the tie The Hawks and The Kites, with Swiatek's team leading 10-9 ahead of the match, which could have proved decisive in the tie of the tournament played with special rules.
Every game won counts as one point, so every game matters, and every match is only a one-set shootout, so players don't get to turn the match around after losing the set.
Already in the third game of the match, Swiatek had three break points, but Sabalenka, who is the better server of the two, saved all of them and kept the match competitive throughout.
Both players got relatively close to a break point in the set, but not of them close enough, but that was only until the tenth game of the set, when the Belarusian played very aggressively on the return.
She forced three break points, and once again, thanks to her aggressive play, Sabalenka converted the first one to win the match 6-4 and bring the lead back to her team.
In the last match of the tie, Casper Ruud will take on Grigor Dimitrov, and it will be also the last match of the group stage, as on Sunday, the final tie between the best two teams will be played.
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