Sabalenka and Paolini Advance in Stuttgart Open Quarterfinals

STUTTGART, Germany — Aryna Sabalenka finally made her mark at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, winning her first match of the tournament against former doubles partner Elise Mertens, 6-4, 6-1, in the quarterfinals on Saturday night.

Entering the tournament as the top seed after receiving a first-round bye, Sabalenka did not play in the second round due to her opponent’s withdrawal, making her quarterfinal match even more significant. “Finally I played my match,” Sabalenka said after her win. “Never happened before that I play the first match on Saturday. Happy with the variety of the game I brought today on the court. Yeah, I think it was a very decent game.”

Sabalenka will face No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals, after Paolini upset No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 4-2, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.

During her quarterfinal, Sabalenka showed resilience. Mertens tested her early when she was a point away from leading 5-4, but Sabalenka recovered to take the lead. “I had a week to practice on these courts, so I felt pretty comfortable,” she noted regarding her performance on clay. “I think it was about just playing the first match on clay, get used to the game, not over-rush things.”

Sabalenka has struggled in previous Stuttgart finals, finishing as runner-up in 2021, 2022, and 2023 without clinching the title. She expressed her determination to finally win at this tournament: “I lost three finals against World No. 1s. I’ll keep it in mind as motivation. If I make it to the finals, I’ll be hungry as ever.”

Meanwhile, Paolini’s victory was also noteworthy, marking her first win over Gauff in their three career meetings. After battling from a 2-4 deficit to win the first set, Paolini allowed Gauff little room to recover. “I had to come through some adversity in order to do it,” Paolini said, underscoring her determination. “I played aggressively and was consistent; that was key to my win.”

Gauff’s struggles with her serve persisted once again as she faced Paolini. Gauff’s penchant for double faults, including two at crucial moments, was instrumental in handing the first set to her opponent. “It’s going to be a tough one, but good preparation for Roland Garros,” Gauff stated, indicating her ongoing challenge to regain her former success.

Paolini’s victory is a testament to her improved form, bolstered by recently hiring Marc Lopez, an accomplished coach in women’s tennis. With the momentum of this win, Paolini aims to capitalize on her newfound confidence in the semifinals against Sabalenka.

“It’s not going to be easy, but I have to play a good match to be in the match, to try to win some games,” Paolini noted about her upcoming match against Sabalenka who remains a formidable force on the clay.

As the Stuttgart Open progresses, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Sabalenka can finally claim the Porsche title or if Paolini will continue to defy expectations, making her mark in the tournament.