Online Reporter
WORLD No.1 Aryna Sabalenka believes she is ready to hit her peak as she prepares to launch the defence of her US Open tennis crown after a tumultuous season of near-misses.
The 27-year-old from Belarus arrives at Flushing Meadows sitting on top of the global rankings despite a year in which she has failed to add to her tally of three Grand Slam singles titles.
Agonising defeats in the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, followed by a semi-final exit at Wimbledon, have left Sabalenka even more determined to retain her crown in New York, a tournament she regards as her favourite Grand Slam.
Sabalenka took a lengthy break after her Wimbledon disappointment, opting to skip the WTA Montreal tournament to recharge.
Although her return at the Cincinnati Open ended in a straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals, a relaxed Sabalenka says she is in a positive mood heading to New York.
“I’ve had a pretty good season so far in the Slams. Lost those two finals, but I learned really tough lessons,” Sabalenka said.
“I lost in semis at Wimbledon, but the consistency is there. I’m just missing a little, little part. (The US Open) has always been my favourite slam. I’m defending champion, and I love being in this position.”
Both of Sabalenka’s Grand Slam final defeats this season went to three sets.
A gruelling 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 loss to Madison Keys in Melbourne was followed by a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 reverse to Coco Gauff at Roland Garros. “After that, I had to sit back and reflect on everything and apologise and make sure that people understand my point — that was just I was over emotional,” Sabalenka said of the Gauff controversy. “I was completely wrong . . . it was a tough lesson, but it helped me a lot in so many different ways.” As the No. 1 seed, Sabalenka could meet third seed Gauff in the semifinals in New York, in a repeat of their 2023 final. But the biggest threat to Sabalenka’s hopes of a successful title defence may come in the shape of Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who heads into the tournament brimming with confidence after following up her breakthrough Wimbledon title in July with victory at the Cincinnati Open.
Second-seed Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka in the semifinals en route to winning the US Open in 2022, has looked in relaxed mood since arriving in New York. — AFP Sport.
