Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka hungry for French Open success
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory at the Australian Open.
Photo:
Photosport
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is determined not to let anything upset her title hopes - or her digestion - as she eyes a first French Open title, insisting she relishes the pressure of being the player to beat.
The Belarusian arrives in Paris as the top seed at a Grand Slam for the second straight time, after her
run to the Australian Open
final in January.
While she admitted to embracing the target on her back, Sabalenka insisted rankings meant little in the unpredictable world of major tournaments.
"Honestly, I just love it so much, knowing there's someone chasing me," Sabalenka, 26, said. "I take it as a challenge.
"Every time I go out there, it's like, 'OK, let's see who's ready for the pressure moments'."
Aryna Sabalenka relishes the target on her back at Roland Garros.
Photo:
photosport
Sabalenka, who has never reached the final at Roland Garros, believed she was now better equipped, both physically and mentally, to challenge on clay, a surface she conceded took her years to master.
"On clay, power's not enough," she said. "You have to build the point three or four times, you have to be physically and mentally ready, and you need variety.
"This surface made me work really hard to get to this level."
The Belarusian has suffered painful near misses at Roland Garros, including a quarter-final exit last year, when illness struck at an inopportune time. Sabalenka joked she had learned from that episode.
"I'm definitely not going to go for the same meal I had before that match," she smiled. "The lesson is learned.
"We made adjustments on my food and we'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
While much of the attention would be on a potential semi-final showdown with defending champion Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka was keen to keep the focus on herself.
"I don't have expectations for anyone else.
"Grand Slams are tricky. Everyone feels pressure, there are always upsets. I'd prefer to stay in my own bubble and focus on my game."
- Reuters
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