Aryna Sabalenka lauds Saudi Arabia for putting ‘huge efforts’ in improving quality of ‘women’s life’ ahead of her WTA Finals match in Riyadh

Aryna Sabalenka, who is in Riyadh for the WTA Finals, is impressed with the work the Saudi government has been doing in women's sports.

Aryna Sabalenka lauds Saudi Arabia for putting ‘huge efforts’ in improving quality of ‘women’s life’ ahead of her WTA Finals match in Riyadh

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

Aryna Sabalenka doesn’t have a problem playing in Saudi Arabia even though the country is accused of sportswashing to save its image due to human rights issues, particularly around women and the LGBTQ+ community. The Belarusian is in Riyadh for the WTA Finals and will kick-start her campaign on November 2.

Sabalenka is ‘impressed’ with the efforts that have been put into women’s sports in Saudi Arabia and is ‘happy’ to be a part of ‘some sort of history’. Before the WTA Finals, she once played an exhibition match with Ons Jabeur and found the atmosphere ‘quite chill’.

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I would say this country put huge effort on bringing sport events here. Overall, I would say improving quality of women’s life here. I’m really happy we’re part of it. I think that’s really great that we are here and we inspiring young generation here. I mean, we are safe. We’re having great time. It’s beautiful city. Yeah, that’s basically my message.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference 

Sabalenka will face Qinwen Zheng in her first group-stage match. The World No. 1 will be aiming to improve her head-to-head record to 5-0 over the Chinese sensation.

Aryna Sabalenka describes 2024 as a crazy year 

Earlier this year, Aryna Sabalenka‘s ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov died by ‘apparent suicide’. Sabalenka then was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury and ended up missing the Paris Olympics.

Aryna Sabalenka (4)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

Sabalenka, however, bounced back and won the Cincinnati Open, before lifting her maiden US Open title. She then defeated Qinwen Zheng in the final of the Wuhan Open and also dethroned Iga Swiatek from the top to become the World No. 1 player.

Ahead of her group stage match against Zheng in the WTA Finals, Sabalenka described this season as a ‘crazy’ one as it was filled with ups and downs.

Crazy, isn’t it? There must be something wrong with me. I would say this year was definitely up and down, sometimes really downs. It was tricky. Yeah, that was a tough, tough year. A lot of crazy stuff happened to me. 

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference 

After the match against Zheng, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion is scheduled to meet Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini. Last year, Swiatek eliminated the 26-year-old in the semifinals. In the 2022 WTA Finals, Sabalenka reached the summit clash but lost to Caroline Garcia in straight sets.