Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka Upset by Marie Bouzkova in Washington Open Semifinals

"Marie Bouzkova Stuns Aryna Sabalenka to Reach Washington Open Final; Paula Badosa to Face Off for Title"

In a surprising turn of events at the Washington Open, world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out by Czech player Marie Bouzkova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the semifinals of the hardcourt tuneup for the US Open.

Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, struggled after a 3.5-hour rain delay, and Bouzkova capitalized on the opportunity to secure her place in the final. The extended stoppage disrupted Sabalenka’s rhythm, and Bouzkova’s resilience in the third set led her to victory.

Bouzkova, ranked 43rd, broke Sabalenka’s serve multiple times after the delay and held strong to secure the win. She praised her aggressive play and effective serve, which kept her in the match despite the rain-induced interruptions.

Sabalenka, who recently withdrew from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury, faced disappointment as she lost in the semifinals. Bouzkova will now face Paula Badosa in the final, who defeated Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 6-3 to secure her spot.

Badosa, who has struggled with injuries over the past year, will look to claim her first title since 2022. She has previously defeated Bouzkova in their past encounters and is aiming to extend her winning streak.

The final will feature Badosa, who values this opportunity highly given her recent struggles, against Bouzkova, who is eager to build on her current form.

In the men’s semifinals, fifth seed Frances Tiafoe was set to face fourth seed Sebastian Korda, while second seed Ben Shelton competed against 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.

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