Sabalenka sets up Stuttgart semi-final showdown with Paolini
Aryna Sabalenka cruised through to the Stuttgart Open semi-finals with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Elise Mertens, in what was her first match at the tournament.
The world number one, who received a bye through the first round, had a walkover into the quarter-finals following the withdrawal of second-round opponent Anastasia Potapova.
Sabalenka's opening match at the WTA 500 event came against her former doubles partner, who had the chance to break her serve at 4-4 in the opening set.
However, the top seed recovered to hold, before breaking to draw first blood.
It was one-way traffic thereon, Sabalenka breaking her opponent in three of her next four service games, while winning her last two service games to love to soar over the line.
"Finally, I played my match," Sabalenka said. "[That has] never happened before, where I played my first match on Saturday. [I'm] happy with the variety of game I brought to the court today.
"I had a week to practice on these courts, so I felt pretty comfortable. Also, I played here so many times, so I know the courts, and I feel really good on this surface."
The world number one set up a tasty semi-final showdown with Jasmine Paolini, who was a 6-4 6-3 winner over Coco Gauff after 88 minutes.
Fifth seed Gauff struck an early blow by breaking to love in the opening game, but Paolini got back on serve at 4-4, before breaking to love to take the first set.
It proved crucial as the Italian went on to prevail in straight sets and secure her first victory over the former US Open champion in three attempts.
5/5 - The Stuttgart Open is the only WTA tournament wherein the World No. 1 has reached the semi-finals each of the last five years. Spotlight.#PorscheTennis | @WTA @PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/ufzyfudn2a
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) April 19, 2025
Data Debrief: Sabalenka stays on course for first Stuttgart title
Sabalenka improved her singles record to 9-2 against Mertens, with whom she won doubles titles at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open.
A three-time finalist at Stuttgart in 2021, 2022 and 2023, she is now one win away from reaching her fourth final in a five-year span.
The Stuttgart Open is the only WTA tournament wherein the world number one has reached the semi-finals each of the last five years.
Her last-four opponent will be Paolini, who fired 20 winners to Gauff's eight to seal her first top-10 win of the year.