World number two
Aryna Sabalenka believes she is not
the favourite for the upcoming
French Open. The 26-year-old is often regarded
as one of the best players currently playing in the women’s singles category. Sabalenka recently participated in the
Rome Open, where she finished as the runner-up
after losing to current world number one
Iga Swiatek in straight sets with a
score of 6-2, 6-3.
It was the second consecutive defeat in the final of the
WTA
1000 event for the Minsk-born against the four-time Grand Slam winner as she also
lost in the final of the Madrid Open with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6. Talking
after the match, Sabalenka stated that she does not consider herself the
favourite for the upcoming French Open but was also of the opinion that she will
definitely not compete as an ‘underdog’.
"I'm not like underdog there,” she said. “Being No. 2
seeded, it's tough to call yourself 'underdog'. I'm definitely not the favorite
probably there. But at the same time I do feel that I can actually go for it.
It's 50/50, you know? But I prefer to be underdog. I really hope I'm going to
make it to the final and I really hope I'll be able to get that win, if it's
Iga or not. It's an amazing tournament. It's a Grand Slam. I'll just go there
and fight for every point and see what happens after the tournament.”
