Aryna Sabalenka makes world No 1 ranking confession after being asked if it bothers her ‘not being No 1’
Just over a year ago Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed contrasting fortunes at the US Open as she finished runner-up to Coco Gauff, but became world No 1 for the first time in her career after the tournament as she replaced Iga Swiatek at the top.
Fast forward 12 months and the scenario is reversed as she won the season-ending Grand Slam as she defeated Jessica Pegula in the final, but remained No 2 behind Swiatek in the rankings.
The gap between the top two in the official WTA Rankings has been cut down to 2,169 points, but more importantly Sabalenka is now within striking distance in the Race to Riyadh, which is a big indicator for the year-end No 1 ranking.
Swiatek sits on 8,285 points with Sabalenka only 409 points behind.
Sabalenka has won the Australian Open and US Open this year as well as one WTA 1000 title while her Polish rival lifted the French Open and won four WTA 1000 tournaments.
The Belarusian was asked after the US Open final “how much does it bother you not being world No 1” despite winning two majors this year and replied: “I mean, I’m not trying to focus on ranking, to be honest.
“Not like I’m checking where I’m gonna be after the tournament. I’m just trying to focus on myself, and I know that if on each tournament I’m able to play my best tennis and I’ll be able to bring this fighting spirit on each game, I’ll be able to become world No 1 again. So my focus is on myself, on improving myself as a player and as a person.
“Hopefully one day I’ll see myself on the top of the ranking.”
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Sabalenka says she realised a dream when she won the US Open this year, especially after her challenges away from the court earlier this year when he ex-boyfriend and former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov died in Miami.
On the court she struggled with injury as she missed Wimbledon, but there was a happy ending at Flushing Meadows.
“I faced a lot of challenges on and off the court. The difficult one was also, like, being injured and not able to play Wimbledon. It was new experience for me,” she explained.
“It’s also very special place here, the US Open. I also had a lot of tough losses in the past. I was always hoping that one day I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy. It’s been always my dream.
“That’s why it’s very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger, and I was learning, I never gave up on this dream, and yeah, you know, it’s means a lot.”
