'Still hungry' - Aryna Sabalenka targets return to world No. 1 ahead of Iga Swiatek after US Open win
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Published 10/09/2024 at 15:34 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka reigned supreme at the US Open as she beat Jessica Pegula to win the women's singles title. Sabalenka has won two Grand Slams this season and says she remains "hungry" and wants to return to world No. 1. Sabalenka, who is world No. 2 behind Iga Swiatek, has also revealed how missing Wimbledon with injury helped her "recharge" for the hard-court summer.
Sabalenka beats Pegula in straight sets to lift first US Open trophy
Aryna Sabalenka is hoping to follow up her US Open win by chasing down Iga Swiatek and reclaiming the world No. 1 spot.
The Belarusian beat Jessica Pegula in the US Open final to claim her second Grand Slam title of the season.
The triumph has seen Sabalenka close the gap on Swiatek to 409 points in the race to the WTA Finals, which are based on performances over the calendar year, while she is 2,169 points behind in the world rankings, which run across the last 12 months.
Last year Sabalenka became world No. 1 for the first time following the US Open, only for Swiatek to overtake her at the WTA Finals to finish as year-end No. 1.
Swiatek has 2,600 points to defend for the rest of the season, while Sabalenka has just 840 points.
"I'm still hungry, for sure," Sabalenka told the WTA Insider podcast.
"Another goal for sure is to try to become world No.1 again. But I don't want to talk about this goal. I'm just trying to keep improving myself and keep getting better every day.
"But now I'll definitely have some days off so I can just enjoy this win and I can switch off and forget about tennis for a little bit. So I'll keep this freshness till the end of the season. Six weeks is not that much."
Sabalenka's 2024 season has not been without challenges.
Her former partner Konstantin Koltsov died in March and she then battled a shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon.
“This one is very special, because of so many things I had to overcome in the past and especially this season and still be able to compete on my highest level and to get this beautiful trophy,” she reflected in New York.
"It's even sweeter because after you're fighting something on and off the court and facing so many challenges and at the end you're still getting this trophy."
Sabalenka has won three titles this season: the US Open, Australian Open and Cincinnati Open.
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Sabalenka 'puts family name in history of tennis' after withstanding 'crazy level' of Pegula
Although she missed Wimbledon, she says the time off helped her prepare for the hard-court summer.
“I am the person who is always trying to stay positive and when I didn’t feel my best at Wimbledon I had to pull out," she added.
"I just always take a step back and try to enjoy off court life and trying to enjoy every moment because you never know what is going to happen tomorrow.
“I felt like after Wimbledon I have to use this time to recharge, reset for the hard-court season. I did a lot of rehab but I was also able to switch off and get recharged and I felt hungrier than ever before.
"It was really much needed that little break for me. The key is I am always trying to find positive things in every situation.”
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