Aryna Sabalenka has a real shot of dethroning Iga Swiatek from number one in the coming two weeks at the 2023 US Open, but it's not something she's thinking about.
Sabalenka put together a really strong season overall, winning one Grand Slam trophy and coming close to winning two more. She was on the verge of beating Karolina Muchova at Roland Garros, only to lose in three. She was on the brink of beating Ons Jabeur at Wimbledon, only to lose in three again.
Those defeats were painful, but she's remained motivated to try and win another one at the US Open. While the trophy is the main prize, several other things are also up for grabs - the number one ranking on the WTA Tour. She was asked about it ahead of the event, but confirmed that she's not really thinking about it.
Well, I don't need to push it on the side because this is not something I'm really thinking during the tournament, during the matches. I mean, I know that I had and probably I have opportunity to become world No. 1, but there is still a lot of job to be done. I'm, like, focusing on myself more than on the ranking.
The goal for Sabalenka is to bring her best tennis to New York and everything else will fall into place. If she wins the event, it would be great. If she becomes world number one, that would be great too, but both will require her to play her best tennis, and that's the goal.
I know that if I'll bring my best tennis, if I'll do my best, I know that I'm able to do that. I'm trying to shift my focus more on myself, on my game, on improving myself more.
Time will tell how she does, but she's facing Maryna Zanevska in the opening round.
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