Aryna Sabalenka reveals why she’s ‘glad’ of losing 2023 US Open final to Coco Gauff after victory over Qinwen Zheng in Wuhan Open
The defeat to Coco Gauff in the 2023 US Open final helped Aryna Sabalenka beat Qinwen Zheng in the Wuhan Open final.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff (Image via Open Source/X)
Aryna Sabalenka reflected on her 2023 US Open final defeat to Coco Gauff and felt the loss helped her beat Qinwen Zheng in the Wuhan Open final. Sabalenka succumbed to pressure while playing home favorite Gauff at Flushing Meadows last year, but she didn’t let the same affect her when she took on Zheng in Wuhan.
Just like the US Open, Sabalenka won the first set in Wuhan, but the crowd backed Zheng, who amid loud cheers forced a comeback. Sabalenka, however, didn’t allow the Paris Olympics gold medalist to do more damage as she denied the Wuhan crowd the satisfaction of seeing Zheng emerge as the champion, winning with a scoreline of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory as she clinched her third Wuhan Open trophy.
I think that match against Coco last year gave me a lot. I’m actually really glad I lost that match because I think it was better for me. I learned a lot. Right now, if the crowd is against me, I’m okay with that. I don’t really hear them. I’m focusing on different things.
Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference
Sabalenka revealed that instead of focusing on the crowd, she rather tries to focus on her team and herself so that she can keep thinking about the tactics and the technical issues.
En route to the final, Sabalenka also faced difficulties in the semifinals, as Gauff defeated her 6-1 in the first set. But the Belarusian ace forced a comeback in the second set and did not fail to capitalize on the momentum to secure the win.
Aryna Sabalenka improves her head-to-head record over Qinwen Zheng
The Wuhan Open final was Aryna Sabalenka‘s fourth match against Qinwen Zheng on the WTA Tour. The three-time singles Grand Slam champion has now won all of those matches against the Chinese and registered her third consecutive victory over her this year.
Sabalenka met Zheng for the first time in the 2023 US Open quarterfinals, followed by three encounters in 2024 (Australian Open final, US Open quarterfinal, and Wuhan Open final).
Sabalenka arrived in Wuhan following her quarterfinal exit at the China Open. She was the heavy favorite in Beijing but fell in three sets to former World No. 8 Karolina Muchova, who then lost in straight sets to Coco Gauff in the final.
This win in Wuhan was Sabalenka’s first title since clinching the US Open where she defeated another local, Jessica Pegula, in straight sets. The Wuhan Open was Sabalenka’s fourth title of the season after the Australian Open, Cincinnati Open, and her first victory at Flushing Meadows. The World No. 2 is 54-12 for the season.
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Gouri Das
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