A heated moment unfolded during the Berlin Open when Rebeka Masarova halted her match against Aryna Sabalenka, claiming the court was too slippery to continue. This interruption on grass courts sparked debate, prompting former US Open champion Andy Roddick to express his disappointment about what he described as tactical stalling during the match.

In the early stages of this clash, Masarova seized an advantage, applying pressure with six break points in the opening set. Yet Sabalenka, the Belarusian and current World No. 1, fought back decisively to win the first set 6-2. However, the disruption came soon after as Masarova raised concerns about the playing surface’s slipperiness, leading to a pause enforced by the umpire, which created tension on and off the court.

Andy Roddick Criticizes Opponent’s Court Condition Complaint

Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Andy Roddick openly challenged Masarova’s decision to interrupt the match, suggesting it was a strategic move rather than a genuine safety concern. He remarked,

“She just wanted the exit door. Because what was happening out there favoured Masarova zero. But it’s a tough call for Masarova because you’re not only protecting yourself, but then this affects the entire draw, the entire tournament. They’re trying to wedge in one more match. Sabalenka’s obviously not someone you can hide on the side court. There was about an hour of daylight left.” —Andy Roddick, Former US Open Champion

Roddick also reflected on a similar moment from his career where he openly admitted to using a match pause to his advantage, saying,

“I did this one time and it was purely because I didn’t want to play another set, not because it was wet. I did it at Wimbledon, I was up two sets, guy came back won two sets, and I just walked off the court, and there wasn’t much they could do. I think Sabalenka was absolutely right. I was wrong then, and Masarova was wrong today.” —Andy Roddick, Former US Open Champion

Aryna Sabalenka’s Perspective on the Match Interruption

The Berlin Open marks Aryna Sabalenka’s first grass-court tournament this season, a return following her hard-fought loss against Coco Gauff in the French Open final. During this interrupted match, Sabalenka showed resilience after a difficult start and expressed her frustration clearly after the pause was called. Addressing the umpire, she questioned the fairness of the stoppage, stating,

“So you’re stopping the match because she said on that side it’s slippery? I just played two games on that side. She’s just losing the match.” —Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 1

Next Steps for Berlin Open Contestants

The match between Sabalenka and Masarova is scheduled to resume on Thursday. The player who progresses will face a formidable challenge in the next round against either Elena Rybakina or Katerina Siniakova, continuing the competitive atmosphere of the tournament. This incident highlights ongoing tensions in large tennis events where match conditions and player strategies can deeply affect outcomes and tournament scheduling.