Aryna Sabalenka, who is still fresh off her Australian Open triumph, is determined to prove she's not a one-hit wonder.
The Belarusian powerhouse has set her sights on dethroning Iga Swiatek as the World No.1, and she's certainly off to a strong start. After a commanding straight-sets victory over Shelby Rogers in the second round of the 2023 Miami Open, Sabalenka is showing she's ready to challenge Swiatek for the top spot as the Pole was forced to withdraw from the event.
Sabalenka's unwavering focus on her ultimate goal speaks volumes about her work ethic and dedication to the sport. With many players losing their drive after achieving their dreams, Sabalenka's determination to continue pushing herself sets her apart. As she stated after her Grand Slam win:
"It was an amazing moment, but time to move on. It's another tournament, it wasn't the only one goal. Of course I want to be No.1. Of course I want to win more Grand Slams, which is normal. I think every one of us, everyone wants to do that. Probably that's why it helped me to stay focused and helped me to keep working and just keep doing my best every day."
While the desire to be No.1 and win more Grand Slams is a common goal among tennis players, Sabalenka's relentless pursuit of improvement is what sets her apart. With a keen eye for self-analysis, she's quick to pinpoint areas for growth, especially when faced with tough competition like Swiatek.
"You always have to keep improving, keep learning, because a lot of young players are coming. For example, Swiatek, she's moving better. So the first matches I played against her, I felt like physically I'm not ready."
Sabalenka's commitment to continuous progress is evident in her recent focus on fitness. After struggling against Swiatek in the past, she recognized that her physical condition needed improvement to keep up with the Polish star. Sabalenka and her fitness coach have since made significant strides, and her increased endurance and agility have been on full display.
"I'm getting tired after a few points and that's not how I'm going to win this match. So we spoke with my fitness coach to improve my fitness more. We start working even more, so I improved that part of my game."
However, it's not just her own game that Sabalenka is carefully studying. After a loss, she's known to watch her matches and dissect her opponent's strategy, always searching for ways to improve and stay ahead of the competition. This insatiable drive to learn and grow keeps her moving forward and puts her in a strong position to challenge Swiatek for the No.1 ranking.
"Every time when someone is beating you, it's pushing you to think about what you have to improve and this is how you keep moving. If someone beat me, I go watch my match. I take some lessons from there. We improve some things and we move on."
0 Comments