Aryna Sabalenka Tries to Remain Unbothered by People Scrutinizing Her Results: “Funny How They’re Crazy About Someone Else”

Aryna Sabalenka is into the semifinals of the US Open for the sixth consecutive time. On Tuesday (September 8), the Belarusian ace clinched a thrilling 7-6(1), 3-6, 7-6(7) win over reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova to inch closer to a three-peat of the New York Slam.

Sabalenka, who now leads 3-0 in the head-to-head matchups against the Czech ace, has reached her second semifinal since completing the Sunshine Double in March. Since 2024, if there is one woman who has been in great form, it’s Sabalenka (though she did experience a slump).

She has clinched three Grand Slam titles since then (the Australian Open in 2024 and the US Open in 2024 and 2025). It was also in 2024 that she dethroned Iga Swiatek to reclaim her No.1 ranking and has been at the top since then.

There has always been a great deal of chatter around the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, with the tennis world discussing everything from her ranking and her results to her personal life. Having the target on her back pushes her to be better. But has Sabalenka ever had a “me against the world” kind of feeling? When she was asked this at the press conference, Sabalenka said:

No… why… no. I was just focused on myself. For me, it’s just funny to see how people are judging someone, guessing, doubting, coming up with random theories about someone. For me, it’s just been funny to see how people are crazy about someone else.

Sabalenka needs just one win to reach her fourth consecutive final at Flushing Meadows. After losing to Coco Gauff in 2023, she defeated Jessica Pegula in 2024 and Amanda Anisimova last year (also the last time she won a Major).

This year, she was denied her third title at the Australian Open by Elena Rybakina, who took home her second Grand Slam title with a three-set win over Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka, the runner-up in last year’s French Open, lost in the quarterfinal this season, while at Wimbledon, her campaign ended in the fourth round.

Aryna Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals

Aryna Sabalenka will see a very familiar face in the semifinals. It’s Jessica Pegula whom she will be playing, after the home favorite saw off countrywoman Emma Navarro in three sets.

It will be their 14th meeting. Sabalenka has a lead of 9-4 in the head-to-head matchups but lost twice in their last three matches, including in their last meeting in the semifinals of this year’s Berlin Open.

Yeah, I think it’s fun to look at it like a rivalry. I think that’s what kind of motivates me is and I think honestly I feel like that’s what’s going to motivate her… Probably that I beat her the last couple times. I’m sure she’s going to look at those couple matches and what she needs to do different. I think for me, I’m going to try to pull what I did well from those few matches, but then also be aware that she’s a top player.

Jessica Pegula said at the press conference

Pegula is chasing her career’s first Grand Slam title. Last year in her home Slam, her campaign was ended by Sabalenka in the semifinals.

Her team, I feel like, do a really great job of looking at what they need to improve, what other players are doing against her. And I think that’s the reason she is number one because they’ve done such a great job at that.

Jessica Pegula added

Pegula will dethrone Sabalenka from the No.1 ranking if she wins the title and Elena Rybakina loses to Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals. The World No.3 is chasing her third title of the season.

Also read: Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo Hints at Ditching Best-of-Five Sets in Grand Slams: “We Need to Explore”