“The moment you start thinking about that, you lose it”: Aryna Sabalenka on the mental toll of being World No. 1
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka is three wins away from defending her US Open title, but every match she wins in New York is also helping determine whether she can remain at the top of the WTA rankings. The World No. 1 has reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, putting herself in a position where the fate of her ranking is entirely in her hands.
Sabalenka needs to defend the title she won in 2024 and 2025 to stay at No. 1. If she falls short, Elena Rybakina has the clearest opportunity to take over the top spot, while Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff also remain in contention if either wins the tournament and Rybakina does not reach the semifinals.
That makes the ranking battle increasingly difficult to ignore, particularly with Sabalenka now sitting at 92 weeks as World No. 1. Yet the two-time defending champion has chosen to do precisely that. Rather than calculating scenarios after every round, she is trying to keep her attention on the only thing she can control: the next match.
It is an approach that has helped Sabalenka navigate a demanding opening week. She defeated Camila Osorio, Petra Iatchenko, Kamilla Rakhimova and Taylor Townsend without dropping a set, and will now face reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the quarterfinals.
“I completely separate myself from that”
Sabalenka knows exactly what is at stake, but she does not want to spend the tournament calculating what every result could mean for the World No. 1 ranking. With Rybakina, Pegula and Gauff still in contention, different results can produce different scenarios, but Sabalenka wants to keep all of that outside her mind.
“Oh, I completely separate myself from that because it's just guessing,” she said at her press conference. “For me, I'm just focusing on myself and I'm just trying to bring my best tennis every time I'm competing out there and basically fight for it.
“There's always different statistics that social media brings. So I'm just completely away, trying to stay away from it.”
In Sabalenka's case, however, the equation is relatively simple: if she successfully defends her US Open title, she will remain World No. 1. If she falls short, Rybakina has the clearest opportunity to take the top spot, while Pegula and Gauff could also move to No. 1 if either wins the title and Rybakina fails to reach the semifinals.
That means Sabalenka's fate is ultimately in her own hands, but she does not see any reason to change the way she approaches the tournament simply because the ranking is now under her control.
“Basically it's the same because now it's in my control. So I'm just trying to control what I can,” she added. “When it's out of my control, it's out of my control. I wouldn't even think about that.”
For Sabalenka, learning to block out those external pressures is part of the challenge of staying at the top. The physical demands of competing week after week are accompanied by a mental battle to avoid becoming consumed by rankings, expectations and everything happening around her.
“Probably they don't understand how hard it is mentally and physically to keep up the level, and mentally staying kind of disconnected from that because the moment you start thinking about that, you lose it.
“So probably they don't understand how tough it is mentally not to focus on that and to constantly focus on improving yourself.”
“It can actually destroy you”
Sabalenka's approach extends beyond the ranking. Even when she reaches the kind of form where everything appears to be working, she believes she has to resist becoming too aware of it.
Asked about the feeling players sometimes describe as being in the zone, Sabalenka explained that she deliberately brings herself back to the present rather than allowing herself to get carried away by the sensation.
“Actually, when I feel such moments, I'm just trying not to think about that. I'm bringing my focus back into the game because I feel like the moment you get stuck in that feeling, it can actually destroy you," the 4-time Grand Slam champion stated. “The moment I feel like, ‘Oh, nothing can go wrong,’ I'm like, ‘Okay, I'm bringing myself back into game mode. What do I have to do right now in this point to win it?"
That mindset was tested against Townsend, who made the opening stages unusually difficult despite eventually losing in straight sets. Sabalenka had to adjust her serve and find different ways to prevent the American from settling into a rhythm.
“She was returning really well. She saw where I'm going, she was blocking really well. I guess playing doubles and mixed doubles really helped to react to heavy serves.
“It was a really challenging beginning, but then I had to adjust my serve — the speed, the spin — and bring variety into my service games just to keep her guessing.”
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Now Noskova stands between Sabalenka and a place in the semifinals. The Czech is the reigning Wimbledon champion and owns an aggressive style that Sabalenka expects to test her, although the World No. 1 has won both of their previous meetings, including their semifinal clash at Indian Wells earlier this season.
The stakes are clear: another win keeps Sabalenka moving towards a third consecutive US Open title and protects her place at the top of the rankings. But for the defending champion, the way forward remains deliberately simple — avoid the scenarios, avoid the distractions and focus on the next point.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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