Photo Source: TC
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday May 12, 2025
Aryna Sabalenka is playing like she has unfinished business in Rome, and that’s bad news for the rest of the field. Marta Kostyuk did everything in her power to steal a set off of the World No.1 on Monday night at the Foro Italico, the pair battling in a 94-minute second set that eventually yielded a set point for the Ukrainian and a chance to take the top seed to a decider.
It was a stunning turn of events, given how Sabalenka had sauntered through the opener. Kostyuk was blown off the court in the early going, but rebounded to push Sabalenka to the brink in set two. The match hinged on a few key moments, and it was Sabalenka who walked the tightrope to perfection.
Kostyuk forced her to bring out her very best.
In the final-set tiebreak, Kostyuk saved a match point with a rifle down the line, a forehand that zipped into the open court to level at 6-all, and had a set point moments later, after a perfectly placed drop shot left the Belarusian flat-footed. But that was Sabalenka’s cue to turn up the intensity, and she did just that, producing an inspired forehand winner to level at 7-all.
Kostyuk saved another set point to draw even at 8-all but Sabalenka stole away with the final two points and a satisfying 6-1, 7-6(8) victory that marked her ninth consecutive victory and her 34th of the season overall.
“That was definitely a battle, I’m just thrilled with the performance today – I really enjoyed this fight and I’m super happy to get the win,” relieved Sabalenka told the Campo Centrale crowd. “It’s a dream top play on this beautiful stadium and to feel this support. It’s the dream of every tennis player and I really appreciate all the support.”
Sabalenka, this year’s Miami and Madrid champion, saved 12 of 14 break points and hit 24 winners as she stretched her WTA 1000 winning streak to 15, and improved to 12-1 on the clay in 2025.
Sabalenka saved the first 12 break points she faced in the match but was finally broken as Kostyuk took the 5-3 lead in set two.
It was a lead that proved fleeting as Sabalenka broke back immediately, then consolidated for 5-all. A trade of breaks took the pair to a tiebreak, where Sabalenka needed three match points to finally take out the World No.27 for the second time in as many weeks, and the fourth time in four meetings.
Quarterfinals Set in Rome
The elite eight are set for the final clay court masters 1000 event of 2025:
[1] Aryna Sabalenka v Zheng Qinwen [8]
Sabalenka owns the 6-0 lifetime edge but this will be the pair’s first ever meeting on clay.
[4] Coco Gauff v Mirra Andreeva [7]
Gauff is 3-0 against the Russian teen, including a straight set win in the Madrid quarterfinals.
[6] Jasmine Paolini v Diana Shnaider [13]
Paoline defeated Shnaider in their only previous meeting, at the 2024 Australian Open.
Peyton Stearns v Elina Svitolina [16]
Stearns has defeated Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka in back-to-back third-set tiebreaks. Svitolina is a two-time Rome champion. The pair have never met.