Sabalenka: “I need to remember I’m world No 1”
The best player in the world was pragmatic in defeat
Aryna Sabalenka (Gepa/PSNewz)
In a press conference where she repeatedly, cheekily mentioned her angry words after the Roland-Garros final, Aryna Sabalenka reminded the world – and herself – that she is still on top of the rankings.
After a closely-fought Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Amanda Anisimova – who Sabalenka admitted was the better player – the Belarusian reflected: “I have to say that she was more brave today. Maybe when I was just, like, trying to stay in the point, she was, like, going for all — she was playing more aggressive.
“Sometimes I was just stopping my arms, making like mistakes which I shouldn’t be making.
“I think I should have been a little bit more brave today and remember that I’m on the top of the ranking, and I can do that. I think at some point at the match I forgot about that.”
“I was really close to losing it”
One journalist described her post-match demeanour as “philosophical”, and she responded: “We all can lose control over our emotions. It’s absolutely normal. Every time when I was really that close in that match today to completely lose it and start… I don’t know… yelling, screaming, smashing the racquets, I keep reminding myself that’s not an option, and it’s not going to help me to stay in the
match and to fight for my dream.
“Even right now I took a bit more time before doing my media just so I can be Aryna, not that crazy person that been on that media day at Roland-Garros.”
“That’s on her”
She was asked several times about the American’s behaviour: notably a celebration before the ball was out, and a failure to acknowledge an assist from the net.
“It’s on her. If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.”
