“I like to Accept Tough Challenges,” Aryna Sabalenka Hopes She Will Finally Win the French Open This Season
Aryna Sabalenka has been to the final of six of her eight WTA tournaments this season.
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Aryna Sabalenka (image via X)
Aryna Sabalenka has undoubtedly been the best player in the WTA this season. She has dominated the women’s circuit, having reached six finals in five months. The World No.1 has also won three titles this year. She now hopes that with her great form, she will claim her first Roland Garros this season.
Sabalenka has reached the final of six of her eight tournaments this season, winning Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. She also leads the WTA tour with 31 victories this campaign and is currently playing her best tennis. However, now, winning the French Open is her ultimate goal. The clay-court Grand Slam has been dominated by Iga Swiatek, who has won it four times.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, achieved her best run at the tournament by reaching the semi-finals of the Roland Garros in 2023, where she lost to Karolina Muchova in three sets. Last year, she was knocked out in the quarter-finals by then-17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. Also, statistically, the French Open is her third-best Grand Slam in terms of winning percentage.
She has always played her best at the Australian Open and US Open. Nonetheless, she believes that this season lucky will be on her side and she will claim her first French Open.
Every time I go there, it’s like a challenge for me, even though I love playing on clay, and I feel really good. But it seems to be a challenge for me, and I like to accept tough challenges. I just have more confidence in my game on the clay court. I had really tough battles in the past in the last stages of the tournament. I was there in the semis, and I was really close to making it to the finals. I’m just going to go out there and compete and fight.
Aryna Sabalenka said via Rome Press
Sabalenka has been to two clay finals this season. First, the indoor clay tournament in Stuttgart, where she finished as runners-up. Then, at the Madrid Open, defeating Coco Gauff in the final to claim the title.
Aryna Sabalenka says she doesn’t need any player to motivate
Aryna Sabalenka currently sits as World No.1 and has been the best player in the women’s circuit. Her rival, Iga Swiatek, has struggled this season, leaving her to cement her place at the top of the WTA rankings. However, she revealed that she doesn’t need Swiatek to be breathing down her neck to feel motivated at the top.
Honestly, I think I’m able to find that push inside of myself. It’s not like I’m having the easiest matches all the time, like all of them can really push me to work really hard for each point. Anyway, whenever I play out there, there is like a fight and I have to overcome some things, and I’m pushing myself really hard in some of the matches.
Aryna Sabalenka said
Sabalenka is currently at the Italian Open and will open her campaign in the second round against Anastasia Potapova. The Belarusian has a 1-0 lead over the Russian in their head-to-head record. It will be their second meeting since 2023.
Aryna Sabalenka is dominating the women’s circuit this season
Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance this season has earned 11,118 points and sits at the WTA rankings. She’s the third woman to collect more than 11,000 points, joining World No.2 Iga Swiatek and Serena Williams in the elite group. Also, over 4,300 points separate her from Swiatek, who has not won any title this season.
In fact, the gap is the widest since Sabalenka became World No. 1 last November. She has now spent 37 weeks at No.1 (across two stints). She enters the Italian Open as the 2024 runners-up, while Swiatek enters as the defending champion. With her current form, she’s the favorite to win the title despite having never won the Rome title.
She’s projected to face Sofia Kenin in the third round and Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round. She might also face Swiatek if both reach the final of the WTA 1000 tournament.
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