“More motivation to work hard, just to feel it again” – now that she’s a Slam champion, Aryna Sabalenka says the No 1 ranking is top priority

The 24-year-old is already eyeing future triumphs ahead of her first event since claiming the Australian Open title.

Aryna Sabalenka Aus Open win AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Three weeks have now passed since Aryna Sabalenka claimed her biggest professional triumph at the 2023 Australian Open, and the first-time champion already has her tiger’s eye focused on bigger and better things as she prepares to play the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai this week.

“I want more,” Sabalenka said. “‘Motivation’, this is the word. More motivation to work hard, just to feel it again.”

When asked which she felt more of, motivation or satisfaction, Sabalenka didn’t hesitate to answer.

“More motivation,” she quipped.

“It’s going to be really tough and that’s why I really want to achieve it, because it seems like impossible but I want to make it possible.”

Sabalenka on the No 1 ranking, to Reem Abulleil

Sabalenka – No 1 is first priority

Sabalenka, speaking with Reem Abulliel, made no mistake about the fact that she is eager to go after the No 1 ranking.

“It’s my first priority I would say – I really want it,” she said.

Sabalenka, who currently sits 4,800 points behind Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings, is aware that the challenge is monumental. It’s part of the reason that she wants it so badly.

“It’s going to be really tough and that’s why I really want to achieve it, because it seems like impossible but I want to make it possible.”

“I would like to just focus on myself because I think the only thing why I won Australian Open is because I was focusing on myself. I didn’t really think about all the expectations.”

Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka – not much has changed, but something definitely has

Sabalenka told reporters that winning a Grand Slam title hasn’t really changed her much. She’s still going to go about her business much in the same way that she always has, but with an added advantage: she now know what it takes to go all the way at a major.

“It’s definitely changed something in my mind,” she said. “But no much. I still have to work hard. I still have to prove every time on the court that I’m on the right place. Nothing changed much. It’s just really nice to achieve your goal. Yeah, but I still have to work, so nothing changed much.”

Focus on tennis, not outside expectations

Sabalenka says she wants to continue focusing on herself and her tennis, looking within to find solutions on and off court, while ignoring the expectations surrounding her.

“I would like to just focus on myself because I think the only thing why I won Australian Open is because I was focusing on myself,” she said. “I didn’t really think about all the expectations, all the things happening around, this is Grand Slam, all this stuff. I was just focusing on myself. I was just keep telling myself that I have to bring my level on court, I have a lot of chances to win the match.

“So, yeah, I’ll just try focus on myself.”

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