Sabalenka defeats Paolini to book fourth Stuttgart open final

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to her fourth Stuttgart Open final after overcoming a tough challenge from Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

The 26-year-old Belarusian is still chasing her first-ever title at the tournament, having fallen short in the previous three finals. She lost to Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and then to Iga Swiatek in both 2022 and 2023.

Sabalenka showed determination in the first set, even though she nearly let go of a 5-2 lead. Paolini bounced back at the start of the second set by winning the first three games, putting pressure on the top seed.

However, Sabalenka regained control by breaking Paolini’s serve in the fifth and ninth games of the second set, sealing her place in Monday’s final where she will face Jelena Ostapenko.

“She makes me work for every point. It was hard to get the win,” said the Belarusian of Paolini, 29. “I was just trying to stay aggressive, to put as much pressure on her.”

Sabalenka has won all three of her previous meetings with world number 24 Ostapenko.

The 27-year-old Latvian, who upset world number two Swiatek in the quarter-final, comfortably overcame unseeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 6-4 in her last-four tie.