US Open and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka wants to continue to keep alive her exceptional moment of form, which led her to consecutive triumphs at the Cincinnati Open and at the New York Slam: this week the Belarusian will play at the China Open, where she will try to pursue her next goal: to become WTA No.1 by the end of the season.
Why Iga Swiatek’s Beijing withdrawal is major thing for Aryna Sabalenka’s huge target: Swiatek is set to lose 1,000 ranking points as Sabalenka is lurking from behind and having her eyes on the top spot. https://t.co/DSMzBjrsKT #WTATennis #ArynaSabalenka #IgaSwiatek pic.twitter.com/tCZBPcb1j6
— TennisWorld USA (@TennisworldUSA) September 22, 2024
After taking a few days off, Aryna – already qualified for the WTA Finals – will be able to continue her pursuit of Iga Swiatek, who will not participate in the Beijing tournament. Sabalenka’s journey will then continue in Shanghai, to try to dethrone the Polish player from the throne of women’s tennis by the end of the year.
“I think I still need some time to process what happened in New York. I will go back when the season is over, now I want to continue not to think about it. I had about four or five days of rest, enough to celebrate, enjoy, recharge and start again. I prepared well for the Asian Tour. I would have liked to rest more, but I couldn’t.
Finishing the year as world No. 1 is one of my goals, but I try not to focus on that, but on my tennis. There are only three tournaments left, I want to play my best on the court. After the season, I will see if it is enough to finish the year as world No. 1 or what I need to do to become world No. 1 in the future. To be called the best player in the world means a lot. It’s nice to know that no time was wasted with all those hours of practice,” she said at the media day of the China Open.
Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Beijing for the China Open. ❤️
(via @ChinaOpen) pic.twitter.com/4fJcuMVTkk
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 22, 2024
Sabalenka won her third career Major title in New York. After the double title at the Australian Open (2023 and 2024), the Belarusian has now added the New York Slam to her collection.
A few weeks ago, after beating Jessica Pegula in the Flushing Meadows final, she analyzed: “I’m speechless right now, it’s hard to express myself. Tonight I thought on many occasions about how close I was in the past to winning the US Open title, it’s always been a dream of mine and finally I won this beautiful tournament, I finally managed to get my hands on the trophy. It means a lot to me,” she said, before turning to her opponent: “Jess, you’re showing fantastic tennis, it’s hard to digest losing in a final. I know something about it too but I’m sure you’ll play other Slam finals.”
Sabalenka won 7-5 7-5 but in the second set, after going 3-0 with a 4-0 lead, she found herself down 3-5: “In the second set I was a little afraid that the situation could be reversed this time too.”
Aryna Sabalenka trains on the courts of Janko Tipsarevic 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mmkKNzCC0m
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) September 20, 2024
The reference is to the final she lost last year at the hands of Coco Gauff after Sabalenka had won the first set.
“This title has a special meaning for me, they are tears of joy, not like those of last year. I remember all the defeats of the past, it’s not easy but you have to always believe in your dreams, if you sacrifice everything for a dream one day you will achieve it, you work hard but I’m super proud of myself and my team. I thank my box without you here I wouldn’t exist, I don’t say it often but this is the right time to tell you,” she explained.
And finally, addressing the New York crowd that was obviously cheering for Pegula, she said: “I loved your cheering and your support, I’m sorry for Jessica and I understand it but thank you for the support of these two incredible weeks. It’s a beautiful place New York, I love playing here.”
🇵🇱 Aryna Sabalenka podczas Players’ Party przed WTA 1000 w Pekinie.
🇬🇧 Aryna Sabalenka during the Players’ Party before the WTA 1000 in Beijing.
🎬 WTA | Weibo | #ChinaOpen | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/yAkKPWiKP7
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) September 25, 2024
💖💖💖 pic.twitter.com/JFc9ChEKr2
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) September 25, 2024