On Thursday night, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in a three-set thriller in the SF of the 2024 Madrid Open at the Manolo Santana, ending Rybakina’s 16-match clay-court winning streak. With this victory, Sabalenka has now entered into the third finals of her career in Madrid, winning a title last year. However, a disappointingly low attendance dampened the excitement for the much-anticipated Sabalenka vs Rybakina showdown. Disappointment is in the air in Madrid at the moment!

Recently, Jose Moron, the Director of PuntoDBreak came up with an interesting tweet that highlighted the low turnout of the SF clash in women’s singles at the 2024 Madrid Open. “The 2nd and 4th in the world are playing in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 and it makes me sad to see the stadium so empty. I don’t know what you think.” After seeing this post, several Spanish fans came out in numbers to share their opinions on this. (All the reactions are translated from Spanish by Google).

One of the fans stated that, if Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic had been playing in this match, then the attendance numbers would’ve been much different. He added that he feels ashamed to see the rude public. And that for them it’s quite annoying to see spectators talking and laughing during the points in this prestigious tournament, making a strong point that only 10% of the public loves and respects tennis. “Empty stands if Alcaraz, Nadal or Djokovic are not playing The rude public, talking and laughing during the points A posture tournament Only 10% of the public loves and respects tennis 🎾 I have been and felt ashamed”

Federer and Nadal’s 2020 Cape Town clash holds the record for highest attendance at a tennis match, drawing a whopping 51,954 fans. On the same lines, another fan commented that fans only come up to watch either Nadal, Alcaraz or Djokovic. In the rest of the matches, he feels fans are least bothered! “What I think is that the Madrid Open is nothing more than a showcase for the capital’s überpijerío to be seen only when Alcaraz, Nadal or Djokovic play, and that’s it.” 

While another one pointed out that, Aryna Sabalenka’s last two games were on a higher level than those they have seen so far from the two Spaniards. The fan was truly impressed with the way Sabalenka has played in this tournament. “Sabalenka’s last two games have a higher level than those we have seen from the two Spaniards. What a great game.”

A few of them looked a bit worried about this low turnout. They suggested that something must be done to change these figures in future. “It’s a downturn. Something must change.” Per reports, in 2019, Women’s tennis had 41% less media coverage than Men’s despite higher interest. Remember the recent lack of streaming of Coco Gauff  vs. Madison Keys?

Some of them felt it’s a shame that half of this stadium is for marquees and influencers who have never held a racquet in their hands in their lives. “What is a shame is that half of this stadium is for marquises and influencers who have never held a racket in their hands in their lives. Of course, well separated from the rest of the mortals in their VIP boxes, they won’t catch lice. Pure classism.”

However, world number two, Aryna Sabalenka, is pretty happy with the response she got from the crowd so far in this tournament. Despite, low attendance, the crowd at Manolo Santana was spotted raising their voice for the Belarusian tennis beauty in her match against America’s Danielle Collins. Even in her previous match, Sabalenka got a similar response from the Madrid crowd!

“I want to see you on Saturday!” – Aryna Sabalenka recalls that moment from the SF match which boosted her up against her mighty opponent

Aryna Sabalenka thinks she couldn’t have won the match without the late-night crowd’s energy in her previous match. She specifically highlighted a comment from a spectator which gave wind to her wings against Rybakina. “I heard someone screaming, ‘I want to see you on Saturday!’“ Sabalenka felt those few words from that fan were enough for her to break the deadlock in the tiring three-setter in semis.

She went on to add, “It’s a super special place for me. I feel the support. And today, honestly, if not for the people I would probably leave this court with a 6-1 6-1 [defeat]. And be very sad.” Sabalenka now eyes to become the second player to win three women’s singles titles in Madrid after Petra Kvitova. Who do you think has the edge in the finals of women’s singles in Madrid?

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