Sabalenka on only playing on Saturday: "It's indeed a bit annoying. I texted Potapova to check how she was doing"

Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed at the Stuttgart tournament, will only make her debut in the quarterfinals. Exempt from the first round, she won’t face Anastasia Potapova in the second round due to the latter’s withdrawal.

Quarterfinals are usually played on Friday, but due to Good Friday, no matches will take place that day.

The Belarusian will now play her first match this Saturday, which feels like an eternity. During a press conference, she shared her thoughts on the situation.

"It’s a bit annoying, honestly. I was wondering if she (Potapova) was okay, so I texted her. I told her, ‘What are you doing to me? I don’t play until Saturday.’

It’s a bit inconvenient, but we’ve adjusted the training schedule, and I think it’ll be a good time to hit the gym."