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Quote of the Day: Clara Tauson feared letdown after Sabalenka upset

The Dane joked with a friend that she might play “like shit” after shocking Aryna Sabalenka at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

ByDavid Kane

Published Feb 20, 2025

tauson dubai qf

DUBAI—Sometimes the match after a big win can be tougher than the big win itself.

Clara Tauson was keenly aware of a possible letdown in the aftermath of her milestone victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships:

Q. Could be very difficult to have a great win like you did last night and turn around and have to do it all again. How did you prepare for today's challenge?

CLARA TAUSON: It's funny you say that. I was texting one of my best friends now. I had a great match today, I'm for sure going to play shit tomorrow (smiling). But I didn't. I'm really happy about that. Otherwise I would have lost for sure.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's what helped me. I was aware it was going to be a tougher match. The level I had yesterday is a level you hit maybe five or six times a year. So I was sure it wasn't going to be the same and I was really prepared for that.

"I'm happy that I had a good second serve today": Clara Tauson through to Linz quarterfinals with 53% first serves stat

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Luckily for the Dane, no letdown came, and Tauson scored a decisive win over Linda Noskova, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal.

Read more: Clara Tauson thumps Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai third-round upset

While she waits to see whether she’ll face No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova or 2024 semifinalist Sorana Cirstea for chance to play the biggest final of her young career, Tauson plans to continue keeping her phone on Do Not Disturb.

“My phone has been blowing up,” laughed the 22-year-old, who had only beaten one Top 10 player before this week. “I haven't responded to anyone other than my best friends and my family yet. I'm sorry to those people, but it's been quite a lot.

“I mean, I'm going to respond to everyone when I'm finished. Now I'm going to still focus on the matches I have to play and focus on myself, not look too much on the social media stuff. It's more important that I keep my focus here. After the tournament I can talk to everyone!”