Aryna Sabalenka says she’s happy she has Iga Swiatek on tour: “She’s great. She’s unbelievable. She’s been world #1 for a long time. I’m really happy we have Iga on tour. Someone who motivates me to keep pushing, trying, & improving. That’s the real sport. When you push…
"Someone who motivates me to keep pushing, keep trying, keep improving myself": Sabalenka shows admiration for rival Swiatek
WTATuesday, 05 September 2023 at 22:00
Aryna Sabalenka highlighted the dominance of Iga Swiatek as the world No. 1 and expressed her happiness about Swiatek's presence on the WTA Tour.
The Belarusian recently secured the world No. 1 ranking, taking it away from Swiatek and ending her 75-week reign as the world's top-ranked player. This change in ranking occurred during the round of 16 match between Swiatek and world No. 21 Jelena Ostapenko.
Ostapenko emerged victorious, preventing the four-time Grand Slam champion from defending the 2000 points she earned in 2022 when she became the champion. Sabalenka, who had already advanced past the third round with a victory over Clara Burel, learned about her new world No. 1 status when she woke up on Monday, just before facing Daria Kasatkina.
During her first press conference as the WTA Ranking leader, Sabalenka expressed admiration for her great rival of the past year, Iga Swiatek.
“I mean, she's great. She's unbelievable. She has been World No. 1 for a long time, most of the weeks, I think. I’m really happy that we have Iga on tour, someone who motivates me to keep pushing, keep trying, keep improving myself. I think that's the real sport, you know,” Aryna Sabalenka said in the post-match press conference.
"When you kind of push yourself to the limits and you’re trying to get better, I think it's a normal process if someone changes another one in the ranking spots," Aryna Sabalenka said.
"I feel like it's great that we both are playing great this year, we're kind of pushing each other. I really hope we'll keep doing that and we'll keep facing each other in the very last stages of the tournaments, we'll battle against each other," she added.
Sabalenka now aims to reach the semifinals of the US Open once again. If she succeeds, she would have reached the semifinals in every Grand Slam of the year and it would be her third consecutive semifinal appearance at Flushing Meadows.
She will face a talented opponent in world No. 23 Zheng Qinwen. The Chinese player surprised everyone by defeating the 2022 finalist Ons Jabeur, displaying excellent tennis. She will step onto the court with nothing to lose and a hunger for victory as she seeks her first Grand Slam semifinal.
claps 0visitors 129
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Doping and transparency??? That will never happen :-)
AceOfBase25-12-2024 - That will give the qualifications something extra to watch itAceOfBase25-12-2024
- 2 kids now, so ready for her comeback :-)AceOfBase25-12-2024
- Renee Stubbs, stop the race baiting, you snow flake. Nothing badosa said was racist, and Paula, don't knee-jerk apologize for nothing.tennistim23-12-2024
- Rybakina is back!!
mandoist21-12-2024 - She sems to have a turbulent relationship with The Truth. Not even smartenough to make an excuse like "I severely twisted my ankle yesterday" -- then be seen shopping in some city next day while "recuperating"!mandoist21-12-2024
- Why do you even publish this TwatCaster's PATHETIC stunt for attention? There's plenty of reasons why imbeciles like him are 'talking' and people like Iga Swiatek are 'walking the walk'. Tennisuptodate should be above this tripe.mandoist16-12-2024
- If and when Political Correctness and gullible hearts over-rule BIOLOGY, the Human world begins its already seeming decline.mandoist15-12-2024
- The new generation has arrived and these guys need to do it with the left overs.AceOfBase13-12-2024
- Every young, inexperiend CEO has "better" ideas (and friends to hire).mandoist12-12-2024
