Winner of the last two editions, the Belarusian advances as the big favorite at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season.
In search of a third consecutive title at the Australian Open, a feat which has not been achieved for 26 years, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka assured Friday not to “think too much” at the prospect of such a hat-trick.
“I don’t have my nose in tennis history books every day, tennis is already quite present in my life”smiled the world No.1 two days before the start of the tournament (January 12-26). But “I know of course that I have the possibility of joining legends by winning three titles in a row” in Melbourne, the last to have achieved the hat-trick being the Swiss Martina Hingis (1997-1999).
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“I don’t want to think about it too much, I just want to do my job (…) and I hope that at the end of this tournament I can write my name in history”she added. Winner of three Roland-Garros in a row (2022-2024), the Polish Iga Swiatek (2nd) estimated that each player managed “in his own way” the pressure of having to defend your Grand Slam crown.
You don’t know what can happen
-Iga Swiatek
On a personal level, Sabalenka’s runner-up told the press on Friday that she had felt “the most pressure in 2023, on and off the court”. “I think it also depends on your style of play, you build confidence when you see how you play. Aryna undoubtedly has a perfect game for the hard courts of the Australian Open,” judged Swiatek.
“And then it’s a two-week tournament. Even if you struggle at first, you don’t know what can happen next.”developed the Pole, who will face the Czech Katerina Siniakova (46th) in the first round in Melbourne.
“I know I have a target on my back”
A little earlier, Sabalenka assured that she liked to be “the player to beat. That’s what motivates me, I know I have a target on my back”declared Sabalenka, who will challenge the American Sloane Stephens (84th), winner of the 2017 US Open, in the first round.
“We have fought some great battles in the past”recalled the Belarusian, winner of the four previous confrontations between the two players. I think she’s playing right now like she has nothing to lose. She can play great tennis, I expect a big fight.”
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