“She’s totally a different player now,” Aryna Sabalenka wary of Caroline Garcia threat in bid to claim WTA Finals title

“She’s totally a different player now,” Aryna Sabalenka wary of Caroline Garcia threat in bid to claim WTA Finals title

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka is just one step away from claiming the WTA Finals title. The seventh seed claimed a three-set victory over the current world number one, Iga Swiatek, in the semifinals. The Belarusian faces a stern test in the finals in the form of Caroline Garcia. The Frenchwoman is ending the year on a completely different note than when she started the season.

Given her experience of competing on the big stages, Aryna Sabalenka enters the final as the slight favorite. However, the seventh-seeded Belarusian remains wary of the threat posed by her opponent, and acknowledges the fact that she has raised the level of her game in the last stretch of the season.

Caroline Garcia went past Maria Sakkari in the semifinals, who went undefeated in the round-robin stages. The sixth seed has had an exceptional hard-court season, where she reached the semifinals of the US Open, and claimed the title in Cincinnati.

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Aryna Sabalenka heaps praise on Caroline Garcia: “She has a lot more confidence in herself”

Aryna Sabalenka vs Caroline Garcia
Aryna Sabalenka vs Caroline Garcia (IMAGO / USA TODAY Network)

Aryna Sabalenka spoke highly of Caroline Garcia in lead up to their showdown on Monday evening. The Belarusian stated that the 29-year-old has been playing much more confidently over the past couple of months.

“I think she’s a totally different player now than she was at the start of the season. You can see when she takes part in a competition that she has a lot more confidence in herself and in her game,“ said Sabalenka.

Aryna Sabalenka has not served up to her usual standards throughout finals week. The seventh seed is well aware of her flaws and would like to bring out her A-game against Caroline Garcia.

“Obviously it will be a match that has nothing to do with the one against Swiatek, a duel in which I hope to serve very good, I hope to get out a lot of good first serves, as well as other winners. As for my mental work, nothing will change. I’m still focused on my tennis and that’s what I have to do, go for it,” she added.

The final promises to be an exciting match-up, given that both players like to play aggressively from the baseline. The match is nicely poised, and a tight three-set encounter is certainly on the cards.

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