During the thrilling showdown between Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha, an unexpected interruption took place when a kitten ran onto the court during their game. This playful kitten appeared when the American sensation was gearing up to serve, causing a small pause in their game. The two tennis stalwarts were amused by the feline's antics, with world number one Sabalenka smiling at the unexpected disruption in the game.
The kitten's small appearance on the counter added a lighter moment in the game, which was otherwise extremely tense and competitive. Such interruptions in the game seem bizarre and rare in tennis but have taken place in the past, adding a touch of unpredictability and charm to the game.
For a glimpse of the kitten's court in the thrilling showdown, one can view the following video below:
Also read: Why did Stefano Vukov get banned? Key takeaways from the investigation
World number one Aryna Sabalenka crashed out in the WTA 1000 event
Meanwhile, Ekaterina Alexandrova stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha on February 11. The 30-year-old star won the match in thrilling three sets with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. After the game, the American star credited world number one Aryna Sabalenka as a "fighter," saying she told herself to give maximum effort.
“She’s a fighter. I told myself before the match you need to do the maximum you can do. It took a lot of energy and focus. It was difficult to try to keep [my level] the same as her for two and a half hours. I think for a week I was still thinking about that match. If you lose, at least you tried everything. I’m glad it paid off," Ekaterina Alexandrova said after beating Aryna Sabalenka in Doha.
Also WATCH: Aryna Sabalenka and her sister show off their dance moves in recent TikTok video in Doha
/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/2025/02/12/8cETDkinOY73FiYssHRl.jpeg)