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Aryna Sabalenka lost her third consecutive final at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Sunday, as Iga Swiatek beat her 6-3, 6-4 to successfully defend her title.
Sabalenka reached her first final at the WTA 500 event back in 2021 and lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 to Ashleigh Barty. She then lost to Swiatek in the 2022 final, before suffering the same fate in this year's edition.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Sunday, the Belarusian joked about wanting a Porsche car, which is awarded to the winner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Sabalenka asked the tournament organizers to get an extra car if she reached another final in Stuttgart, with a 'deal' that she would be given one even if she lost again.
"I have a question to the sponsors of the tournament and the tournament director and everyone who makes this event possible. Can I make a deal? If I make another final, just get an extra car. Guys I really try to play in the final and leaving this tournament without the car," Sabalenka said.
The 24-year-old later said that she enjoyed playing in Stuttgart even if she did feel the pain of losing her third successive final.
"But anyway, thank you very much for making this amazing tournament happen. I really enjoy playing here, not that much right now because I lost in the third final. Straightaway it hurts but it's a great tournament," Sabalenka said.
"I will come back till I get the car" - Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka added in her speech that she would keep competing at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix until she laid her hands on the car, joking that she could win it after 10-20 years of trying.
"I will come back till I get the car," she said. "I will keep trying, keep trying and probably, I don't know, in 10 years, 20 years, will get this car."
The World No. 2 then thanked the referees and ballkids before extending her gratitude towards her team.
"Thank you to all the referees and ball kids, thank you so much for your help, I really enjoyed playing here. Thank you to my team. Just thank you, you know. They know I love them," Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka concluded her speech by thanking the crowd who kept cheering for her and applauding her good play.
"Yea thank you so much and thank you for that. It was amazing to play in front of you guys," the Australian Open champion said.
Aryna Sabalenka now has a 23-4 win-loss record so far in the 2023 season, with two titles to her name - the Australian Open and the Adelaide International 1. She will next compete at the Madrid Open as the second seed.
