Aryna Sabalenka is almost certain to figure out the formula for success at the last grand slam of the tennis season after three spectacular performances at the US Open.
Close because she still hasn’t been able to hold the winner’s trophy in New York after suffering two semifinal setbacks and a heartbreaking final loss. Maybe soon, but not quite yet.
Sabalenka is a heavy favorite going into this year’s US Open, which gets underway on Monday. She just won her 15th career WTA title in Cincinnati without dropping a set.
The Belarusian is favored to win the women’s singles championship at Flushing Meadows this time around, one year after she witnessed an early lead over Coco Gauff in the final slip away. She might become the ninth first-time champion in the previous ten competitions.
It was a heartbreaking reminder of how isolating and stressful tennis can be for Sabalenka, who broke down in tears following her loss in last year’s final. Following her exit from the court, she was seen on camera taking a racket out of her bag, smashing its frame on the ground, and throwing it into a nearby trash can.
Sabalenka then claimed that the defeat was a “lesson” for “overthinking” throughout the game. Trying not to get too caught up with how she’s performing, she hopes to put those lessons into practice over the next few weeks.
The 26-year-old claims that she was mostly successful in doing that last year.
“I have to give myself time, but I also have to work hard and fight for every point on the court,” she states. I have to make the most of my time away from the court by going to nice restaurants and keeping a healthy balance.
Not only should one constantly be thinking about tennis, but one should also have a means to sort of detach oneself from the game and forget about it, even for ten hours. Thus, it’s also very important to me that I be able to do that. Because I was so skilled at separating things, that’s why I did so well last year
Sabalenka hardly had time to reflect on tennis after winning in Cincinnati. The following day she was in New York to promote her new partnership with Oakberry, an açaí brand—“a really cool cooperation,” she says—that included the introduction of her own product, the “Power Serve Bowl.”
Sabalenka will now try to build on her impressive recent form in her US Open first-round encounter against Priscilla Hon of Australia. Sabalenka withdrew from Wimbledon a few weeks ago due to a shoulder ailment.
While Sabalenka, the two-time Australian Open champion, has not missed a major slam since two years ago, the experience of missing Wimbledon has only strengthened her resolve for the US Open.
Sabalenka, who has participated in three tournaments since recovering from her shoulder injury, says she is “extremely hungry and excited.” Her confidence increases with each game.
The biggest obstacle, she continued, was her dread of suffering the same injury again. The level of intensity was really high. Having not played high-stakes matches for a month, I was kind of checking on myself during the early sets, wondering if my shoulder was okay.
It was the most difficult thing to do. During the first two events, I felt like I was getting better and better every match I played, and then things really started to click in Cincinnati.
In the long run, some might contend, Sabalenka’s forced hiatus from tennis could be advantageous, especially if it gives her a chance to heal both physically and mentally.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently stated to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “I think [she] may be freshest of them all because she didn’t play the Olympics,” in reference to the US Open. “Everyone else may have some bothersome injuries or be emotionally exhausted. Whoever wants it more will be able to maintain their health.
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