Aryna Sabalenka insists her main focus is on doing well at the US Open and not really on overtaking Iga Swiatek at the world No 1 spot. Since becoming a Grand Slam champion at this year’s Australian Open, Sabalenka has been ranked at No 2 in the world.
Over the last couple of months, Swiatek prevented Sabalenka a couple of times from replacing her at the top spot. At this year’s US Open, there is again a chance for 25-year-old Sabalenka to make it past Swiatek on the WTA rankings.
In order for Sabalenka to replace Swiatek at the No 1 spot, the Belarusian must advance at least one round further than the Pole at the US Open.
Sabalenka on if she is thinking about replacing Swiatek at No 1
“Well, I don’t need to push it on the side because this is not something I’m really thinking during the tournament, during the matches.
I mean, I know that I had and probably I have opportunity to become world No 1, but there is still a lot of job to be done. I’m, like, focusing on myself more than on the ranking. I know that if I’ll bring my best tennis, if I’ll do my best, I know that I’m able to do that.
I’m trying to shift my focus more on myself, on my game, on improving myself more,” Sabalenka said. Last week, Sabalenka made the Cincinnati semifinal. Heading into her US Open first-round match against Maryna Zanevska, Sabalenka feels she is in a good spot. “Yeah, I mean, I played some great tennis, a lot of good matches the last week.
That’s what I needed before going to the US Open. And, yeah, I was there, like, thinking more about building my tennis for the US Open so I can come here with couple of matches – how to say – going into the US Open. I feel great. Yeah, the lessons is just to keep fighting no matter what, just keep working,” Sabalenka said.
