World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is about to make her extremely anticipated return on the China Open following her U.S. Open victory, the place she goals to reclaim the highest rating within the last weeks of the season.
The 26-year-old Belarusian secured her third Grand Slam title this month, including to her back-to-back Australian Open victories. She is poised because the clear favourite for the Beijing crown, particularly with defending champion Iga Swiatek absent as a result of private causes.
Having briefly held the No. 1 spot final season earlier than being surpassed by Poland’s Swiatek, Sabalenka is decided to ship a powerful efficiency in the course of the Asian swing to maximise her possibilities of reaching her objective.
“Of course, that’s one of my goals: to finish the season at world number one,” Sabalenka instructed reporters. “I’m not attempting to concentrate on that. I’m attempting to concentrate on my sport. There are three tournaments left, and I’m attempting to deliver my greatest tennis on courtroom.
“After the season, I’ll see if it was enough to finish the year at world No. 1 or if I have to improve something else. To be called the best player in the world means a lot.”
Sabalenka has already certified for the season-ending WTA Finals, together with Swiatek, and is raring to move to the Nov. 2-9 occasion with loads of wins below her belt.
“It’s important to do well here before the WTA Finals, to have these matches in your pocket before going to the Finals. I think between Wuhan and the Finals, there is a gap of three weeks,” Sabalenka stated. “If you’re not reaching the last stages of the tournaments here, you have a really big gap in between, which isn’t so good before the last tournament of the year.”
The Beijing event runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6.
Source: www.dailysabah.com