2019 Nature Valley International

Bertens vs Sabalenka | Quarter-final

Kiki Bertens needed three sets to fight past last year’s Eastbourne finalist Aryna Sabalenka and book her spot into the Nature Valley International semifinals.

Coming into the match with a 3–0 win-loss record against the big-hitting Sabalenka, Bertens extended her dominance with 32 winners and six aces, breaking her opponent four times to record the 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 victory.

“I have never lost against her so far,” Bertens told press after the match. “I like it when someone’s playing powerful, and then I can just use the slice a little bit more. I don’t have to put so much power in myself.

“I think today I had the right balance, like, where I could hit the slice or where I could play a little bit more aggressive myself. So I think the balance was there again today.”