Aryna Sabalenka has said that she will come back ‘stronger’ from her poor form as she searches for a US Open hat-trick in New York.
The world number one was all set to chase her Roland Garros and Wimbledon dreams having won the sunshine double.
However, Sabalenka hasn’t won a title since then and has suffered some shock exits on the way as she now enters the US Open in poor form.
It isn’t helped by some of her fiercest rivals hitting peak form at the right time and now her world number one ranking is on the line.
Ahead of the US Open the two-time defending champion has said that she will come back ‘stronger’ from the recent setbacks.
“Always confident,” Sabalenka told journalists on media day when asked how she is feeling heading into this year’s US Open.
“Well, that’s the beauty of a sport. Throw tough challenges at me, I will come back only stronger. It wasn’t the best period. I don’t want to defend myself, but obviously I just don’t want to talk about that period. I’ve been dealing with several things. But who cares, right? Yeah, I didn’t perform my best. These tough lessons definitely going to make me way, way stronger and working even harder.
“I work on my mental side of the game. I was trying to reset my mind and to come back stronger, so it’s only going to make me stronger. It’s only a matter of time for me to come back.”
As mentioned Sabalenka enters this year’s tournament having won the last two editions of the US Open and is now searching for a rare hat-trick in New York.
The world number one has the chance to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as players to win three US Open titles in a row.
When asked about that feat Sabalenka said it would be amazing to join such legends but she is also just focusing on herself, “They’re the biggest, and they’re legends. I was growing up looking up to them, and I loved the way they dominate the tour,” Sabalenka said in her press conference.
“So if I would be able to put my name kind of, like, slightly next to them, that means a lot to me. Well, I will focus on myself. I’ll try to do my very best, and we’ll see what happens with the end of this tournament.”
Sabalenka will kick off play on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday when she takes on Camila Osorio.
