“Sometimes you need tough matches to teach you tough lessons” – Sabalenka on the ups and downs of most successful season
It has been a very eventful 2023 for Aryna Sabalenka, who may lose the year-end world No 1 spot
Aryna Sabalenka in Cancun (Zuma/Panoramic)
Aryna Sabalenka fell in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Cancun, losing to Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-2, and knows that the Pole is now poised to reclaim the world No 1 ranking should she beat Jessica Pegula on Monday.
Even so, in a year where she has won her first Grand Slam and reached the top of the rankings, the Belarusian is happy with her achievements – but hopes more will follow.
“I want to leave this season on a positive note,” she said in her press conference. “I feel proud of myself, I made huge improvements this season and I really hope this is only the beginning.”
Sabalenka: I’m going in the right direction
Asked by reporters what she had learnt over the course of the last 12 months, the 25-year-old replied: “I understand myself much better, become more mature, that was the biggest change. That’s made a huge difference this season.”
She added: “I’ve had a lot of lessons this season. A lot of tough losses, a lot of great wins, becoming world No 1…[but] it’s not about ranking. I feel like those tough matches, this is something you need sometimes to learn.
“I’ll just keep working. I feel like I’m going in the right direction, I have to stick to our plan, and just keep going, forget the negative side of this season, focus on the positive, and just keep working, and keep getting better.”
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