"Every time if Wimbledon would be on TV, I would cry": Sabalenka 'super emotional' on return to Wimbledon after 2022 ban

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka admitted that she suffered mentally with a toll being taken by not playing Wimbledon last year.

Sabalenka was emotional in her press conference at Roland Garros saying that her visa had been approved for the grass court major allowing her to play after the ban in 2022.

Speaking ahead of Wimbledon, she admitted her delight at being back saying she had missed it.

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"I'm super emotional right now. I'm super happy to be back. I really miss this place. When I got here first time, I was just like enjoying. I couldn't believe that I'm here. So just super happy to be here," Sabalenka said.

This led her onto being asked about what she did last year when Wimbledon was on without herself in the draw and she said she would cry whenever it was on TV such was the mental toll.

"I was at home having a little vacation, then practicing. But, no, I didn't watch Wimbledon a lot. I felt so bad and I just couldn't watch it. Every time if Wimbledon would be on TV, I would cry, so, I decided just to stay away from Wimbledon last year (smiling)," Sabalenka added.

Her Wimbledon campaign will begin on Tuesday with Panna Udvardy her first opponent. This after a week off following an early exit to Veronika Kudermetova in Berlin, her only grass court preparation.

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