Aryna Sabalenka admits what was ‘really bad’ about her game in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semi-final despite winning

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Aryna Sabalenka has continued her superb season so far by reaching the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Sabalenka agrees with the Grand Slam prize money demand across the WTA and ATP tours, but for now her main focus is on another final.

The WTA number one takes on Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart, having won the Miami Open in her most recent tournament last month.

Iga Swiatek thinks Sabalenka plays more logical than Ostapenko, with the Pole losing to the Latvian in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarter-finals.

Belarusian star Sabalenka meanwhile beat Elise Mertens in their quarter-final, before a semi-final win over Jasmine Paolini.

Aryna Sabalenka admits ‘really bad’ second serve stats despite Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semi-final win

And after the latter, Sabalenka was asked if there was something with her serve that she didn’t really like, despite winning the match.

“I mean, probably today wasn’t the best day of me serving, but you’re talking about my second serve or…?” replied Sabalenka.

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka reveals what the umpire did at the end of her match after she took a photo of a ball mark on her camera

In response, she was told: “Yes, because I think the percentage…” with Sabalenka interjecting: “The percentage was, like, winning.”

But when she was told it was around 20% of points won with the second serve in the first set, she replied: “Oh, really? Wow, that bad? I didn’t feel it was that bad. Yeah, that’s actually pretty bad stats.

“Well, she’s a great player, and I think she adjusted well on my second serve. Yeah, she was returning really well. But also, maybe tactically I wasn’t, like, serving quite well.

“So it’s not like I’m not happy with my serve. I think it just, like, was one of those days when you just have to overcome something, like when something is not working well.

“But yeah, I mean, I’m really happy that even with that percentage I was able to win the match, because it’s really bad, 20%.”

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini Porsche Tennis Grand Prix service stats

In fact, Sabalenka’s second serve in the first set wasn’t exactly as low as 20%, but she will still be disappointed with the figure.

She won just three of 14 second serve points won for a total of 21.4%, compared to Paolini’s 4/11 (36.4%).

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka says which Grand Slam she thinks will be harder to win out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon

Fortunately, Sabalenka managed to raise the stat to 43.8% in the second set, with seven of her 16 second serve points won.

And combined it managed to help her to a 7-5, 6-4 victory, with the top seed progressing against the fifth seed.