Aryna Sabalenka makes concerning injury confession ahead of Iga Swiatek Italian Open showdown
Aryna Sabalenka has disclosed she was considering retiring from the 2024 Italian Open due to an injury ahead of her final showdown with Iga Swiatek.
The world No 2 admitted she would pull out of the Rome final if the issue resurfaces given the upcoming French Open is her priority, but expressed her confidence that this would not happen.
Sabalenka overcame a back injury scare in her 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(7) fourth round victory against Elina Svitolina — during which she saved three match points.
The two-time Australian Open champion did not display any effects of the physical problem in her next two matches as she looked in imperious form.
The Belarusian dismantled world No 10 Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals, before downing 15th-ranked Danielle Collins 7-5, 6-2 in the semi-finals.
Blasting her way into her first Rome final
The World No.2 @SabalenkaA cements her place in the final with a straight sets win!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/GaJBLFdKdB
— wta (@WTA) May 16, 2024
Sabalenka will face world No 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek in a rematch of the epic Madrid Open title match she lost in a final set tiebreak earlier this month.
Following her last four triumph against the in-form Collins on Thursday, Sabalenka was asked about the back injury that troubled her against Svitolina.
“I was considering retiring from the tournament. Lucky me, I had an extra day. I was doing a lot of recovery,” explained the 26-year-old.
“I’m still doing lots of exercise, lots of treatments, always taking care of my lower back. It’s getting better. So I guess we’re on the right way.
“I’m doing everything myself to recover as fast as I can and to be ready for the Paris. Right now I’m feeling great. I’m not in pain during the matches.
“Of course, if something going to happen in the match, I’m going to pull out because Paris is around the corner. Hopefully it’s not going to happen. I feel like it’s not going to happen.
“So just stay positive. Yeah, was crazy injury. I thought, ‘Okay, I’m done in Rome’. But we did a great treatment, great physios.”
The 14-time WTA titlist also addressed how she would approach her clash with Swiatek on Saturday given the fine margins that decided their previous encounter.
“Well, definitely if I’m going to get to the point when I’m going to stay there with the match point, I’m going to go a little bit more aggressive. I’ll just go,” said Sabalenka.
“I’ll trust myself and go for shots instead of, like, trying to keep in the point, just keep the ball back in. Instead of play safe, I would just go for it.
“Approach? I mean, I think the level is there, the tennis is there, that I got everything to get this win. I just have to focus on myself, I guess, and not rush things, wait for the right shot to finish the point.”
Sabalenka added: “You always look for new things. You always try to improve lots of stuff, especially after those kind of matches like in Madrid. You always try to find something else.
“You always try and find some stuff to improve where you can get better so next time you’ll be able to finish the match. After Madrid we work a lot on couple of things.
“We’ll see. We’ll see on Saturday if it’s going to help me or not and we’ll move from there. I really have strong belief that I can get that win.”
Read More: Iga Swiatek highlights her ‘similarities’ with Rafael Nadal and reveals reason she is his fan
