Aryna Sabalenka shrugged off comparisons to Serena Williams, embracing her journey as a unique tennis player.
The Belarusian is currently playing great tennis and she's the leader of the 2023 WTA Race and also triumphed in Madrid. Therefore, it's not a surprise that she found herself at the center of comparisons with the 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
Ahead of the 2023 Italian Open, Sabalenka was asked about the comparisons between her powerful playstyle and that of the legendary American. While flattered by the association, the World No. 2 humbly insisted that her focus lies solely on her own personal growth and improvement in the sport.
When asked the question in Rome, the Belarusian couldn't help but smile, remarking that while the comparison was certainly flattering, she had not given it much thought. At first, she couldn't probably believe her own ears as one of the journalists asked:
"How do you feel to have the heritage from Serena Williams? You look like the only one who is able to have so much power on court, to return and serve like a man almost. Do you feel that or not?"
Confused by the question, Sabalenka responded: "If I feel that or not?" The reporter clarified: "To be the new Serena." Not sure if she heard correctly, the Belarusian asked: "To be what?" As the reporter repeated: "The new Serena Williams."
With her strong serves and aggressive baseline play, Sabalenka has managed to carve a niche for herself in the world of professional tennis. However, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing her individuality and remaining focused on her own journey.
"I don't know. I don't think about that. That sounds good, you know (smiling)? I don't know. I'm not thinking about that. I'm not focusing on that. I'm just focusing on improving myself and getting better every day. Yeah, that's it. I'm not really thinking about that. It sounds crazy and it sounds good to be really strong (smiling)."
Soon, she can get a chance to become the world no. 1, the spot which was held by Williams for many weeks. Talking about her chances and possibility of dethroning Iga Swiatek, she humbly responded:
"I'm doing everything I can to get closer not like to her but to my dream. I'm working really hard. I'm trying to stay focused on every match, every tournament. That's what I really want to do. Hopefully, yeah, I can get as close as I can or probably even - how to say..."
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