Aryna Sabalenka, who is the world No1, narrowly avoided hitting a ballboy as she threw her racquet in a furious outburst during her semi-final match against Jessica Pegula at the Wuhan Open. Sabalenka, who was aiming to win the tournament for the fourth time after previous victories in 2018, 2019, and 2024, was left raging after losing to Pegula. The match started well for Sabalenka as she won the first set 6-2, but Pegula fought back to win the second set 6-4. In a dramatic turn of events, Pegula came back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to defeat Sabalenka and advance to the final against Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka’s outburst occurred in the 11th game of the deciding set, when an angled backhand volley drifted wide, causing her to lose her cool. She threw her racquet towards the side of the court, narrowly missing a ballboy and a cameraman. The Sky Sports commentator expressed concern over the dangerous situation, noting that hitting either the ballboy or cameraman would have resulted in Sabalenka being defaulted from the match. Despite receiving a warning for racquet abuse, Sabalenka continued to play, eventually losing in a tiebreak to Pegula.
In a post-match interview, Pegula expressed pride in her performance, especially in the tiebreak that ultimately secured her victory. She highlighted her toughness and determination to make the most of her current form, despite playing multiple three-set matches in recent weeks. The match was filled with tension and drama, with Sabalenka’s streak of 19 consecutive tiebreak wins coming to an end. Pegula’s resilience and strategic play ultimately led her to triumph over the top-ranked Sabalenka in a thrilling semi-final showdown at the Wuhan Open.
