Aryna Sabalenka is refusing to declare herself “the best player in the women’s game.” Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open champion, defeated Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-3 in the Indian Wells semifinal. With that win, Sabalenka improved to 17-1 at the start of the year.
So far, Sabalenka has been the player who has shown the most in the women’s game. After the Sakkari match, Sabalenka was asked if she was ready to declare herself “the best player in the world at the moment.” “I would prefer to think that I’m one of the best,” Sabalenka replied.
Sabalenka on the key to her strong start to 2023
Last year, there was a period when Sabalenka was mightily struggling with her serve. The problems with serve led to Sabalenka feeling more agitated and frustrated on the court.
But Sabalenka did her best to resolve the issue with her serve and she has also been looking much calmer and composed on the court in 2023. “Well, I think because I was struggling a lot last year, with my serve and with so many things happen last year, I think because of that, I will say I went through hell, and I think that’s why I’m able to be, yeah, more calm on court.
I’m able to kind of control myself better and have this understanding that this is just tennis. If you work hard, if you do everything you can to prepare yourself as good as you can, that’s everything what I can control.
On the court, I just have to keep fighting no matter what, and I think that’s why I’m able to be that way, you know,” Sabalenka said. In the Indian Wells final, Sabalenka plays against Elena Rybakina. In the Australian Open final, Sabalenka recovered from a set down to beat Rybakina and her first Grand Slam title at the age of 24.
Source: Tennis World USA
