The WTA Ranking’s world No. 1 position has not changed Aryna Sabalenka’s perspective, and she has stated that this is not a big change. Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player, has been followed by second-seed Sabalenka for some time.
Nevertheless, Sabalenka accomplished the extraordinary achievement of rising to no. 1 in the world after Swiatek lost in the Round of 16 of the US Open.
Sabalenka highlighted that she wasn’t using the achievement as an excuse to take it easy because she still needed to put equal effort into her tennis.
Sabalenka expressed her thoughts about her latest success and said: “I’m super happy with this achievement in my career, but, I mean, it’s not a big change. You know, I mean, I have been No. 2. Now I’m No. 1. It’s just a difference of position in the draw. I still have to bring my best tennis. I still have to play my best. People will try to, yeah, just try to chase me and get me.”
She further added: “Of course I’m happy. It’s really important for me & my family. I have some things to do in New York this year, so I’m trying to focus on my game. I’ll think about becoming world no.1 after the US Open.”
Aryna Sabalenka says she’ll think about world #1 after US Open:
“Of course I’m happy. It’s really important for me & my family. I have some things to do in New York this year, so I’m trying to focus on my game. I’ll think about becoming world #1 after the US Open” pic.twitter.com/JlpT73duHi
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 6, 2023
🆕👑
Aryna Sabalenka will rise to world No.1 for the first time in her career after the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/gJaX4SOsb6
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 4, 2023
Sabalenka at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2023
LWLWWWWLWW Ranked world no.2 (career-high), Aryna achieved an overall 49-10 win-loss record in 2023. Sabalenka is now playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated the world no.112 Maryna Zanevska 6-3 6-2, the world no.96 Jodie Anna Burrage 6-3 6-2, the world no.62 Clara Burel 6-1 6-1, the world no.14 Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-3 and the world no.23 Qinwen Zheng 6-1 6-4.
Aryna Sabalenka will square off with the world no.17 Madison Keys in the semifinal on Thursday at 9:00 pm on ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM. Their actual record is 2-1 for Sabalenka.
The Belarussian clinched 3 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open and Madrid. Aryna was the runner-up in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) and in Stuttgart (Porsche Tennis Grand Prix).
The Belarussian won 13 titles in her career: 9 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
