Aryna Sabalenka just continued to win tennis matches at a rate that is truly astonishing.
It really feels like almost nobody can stop her, having breezed into the Indian Wells semi-finals with minimal fuss and without dropping a set.
Even Victoria Mboko, who is playing with so much youthful freedom and exuberance, was no match for the world number one.
Aryna Sabalenka spoke court-side after the match to Sky Sports, and actually had Martina Navratilova to thank for this latest win.
Aryna Sabalenka reacts after reaching the Indian Wells semi-finals
She began by reacting to her latest tiebreak triumph, having now won 25 of her last 28 breakers.
However, Sabalenka turned to Navratilova during her analysis to request that she return for the rest of her matches, stating: “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m just trying to stay aggressive, trying to stick to my game plan, and play point by point, without thinking about the tiebreak.
“And also, to be honest, I saw you [Navratilova] before the tiebreak, and I knew it’s a good luck sign, so… Lucky me, I got the win, seven- love. Wow. Can you please be more at my matches?”
Navratilova, laughing, then asked Sabalenka how it feels to be so dominant in this particular area, noting: “You know, I used to be embarrassed when I got into a tiebreak, right? Because I felt like, actually, I should have won the set already by now, but this is exactly where you want your opponents, because your record is so good.”
Sabalenka replied: “Well, yeah, at the same time, I had so many opportunities to break, so many of them, and couldn’t convert them. So I felt a little bit like that, like, I could have closed it a bit earlier, and probably be in the locker room by now.
“But it is how it is, and I know that, probably, most likely, they feel extra pressure playing a tiebreak against me, so it’s kind of like an advantage to my side.
“Not that I’m focusing on that, but I see, like, those small mistakes that are really crucial on the tiebreak.”
The Belarusian concluded by outlining how important winning the title at Indian Wells would be: “Yeah, it’s gonna mean the world, it’s gonna prove that if you never give up, you will achieve your goals, and that’s the mentality I’m trying to bring on the court, always fighting, always trying, no matter what the past holds, I’m trying to come back and be better.”
Sabalenka pointed out what she loved about Mboko’s tennis before their match, and after such a hard-fought encounter, that adoration will surely only have grown.
Martina Navratilova reacts to being called Aryna Sabalenka’s good-luck charm
Naturally, Navratilova was delighted to have been branded Sabalenka’s good-luck charm.
However, she was actually scared that she’d upset the 27-year-old, recalling the stare she was given mid-match.
The 18-time singles major champion claimed: “No, they [the broadcasters] wanted me to talk during the point, and then she looks at me, I’m like, Oh, my God, I felt like I was in school. But it picked her up, so I was like, I’m so sorry!
“I did not know I was a good luck charm, but I’m happy to be that for her, because she’s a great player, and she’s a fun person, and good for all the kids growing up, so I’m happy to be a good luck charm.”