Aryna Sabalenková’s Disappointing Defeat Against Karolína Muchová at Roland Garros: Lessons Learned and Looking Forward to Wimbledon

“It was a tough match. My opponent played incredible tennis. Even so, I had a lot of chances, but I didn’t use them. I’m very disappointed. It’s a hard defeat,” said Sabalenková.

Against the 26-year-old native of Olomouc, she lost the first set in a tie-break, in the second set she forced a continuation thanks to a shortened game. In the decisive third set, she led 5:2 and had a match point during Muchová’s service. However, the Czech turned him away and Sabalenková lost the next four games in a row.

“I think it turned around when I lost serve after that. I was serving for the win, so she came alive and started playing more aggressively. I lost my rhythm. I wasn’t in the game at all,” she added after losing the last 20 of 24 balls.

She also praised Muchová for coming back after a series of health problems. “She was a bit out of the spotlight now, but she has always played great tennis. She goes to the net and plays very aggressively. As soon as she sees a shorter ball, she goes to the net and it’s hard to win a point against her. She plays very well,” Sabalenkova noted.

The winner of this year’s Australian Open refused to be paralyzed by nervousness in the end. She lost at the Grand Slam after a streak of 12 wins. In addition, she did not lose a set at Roland Garros before the match with Muchová.

“You always face some challenges. I’ll definitely learn from this match and come back even stronger. Anyway, I think what I’m doing this year and what I hope to do again is incredible and it’s a step up to the next level. I’m not taking this tournament negatively. “I think I improved on the clay and played my best result here. At the moment, I’m trying to stay positive, no matter what happened on the court,” she added.

After the match, she refused to answer questions related to politics and, on the contrary, is looking forward to the July start at Wimbledon. Last year, she could not participate in the Grand Slam in London due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian tennis players due to the military invasion of Ukraine.

“Yes, I have a visa. Yup. I can celebrate. I’m going to Wimbledon, which is great news. I love playing there and I enjoy the atmosphere there. I had to miss it last year, but I’m looking forward to being back and showing my best tennis, Sabalenková added.