(Beijing) Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka said on Tuesday that she wanted to complete the best season of her career by returning to the top spot in the WTA rankings, held by Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
The world number 2 is seeded No. 1 in the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, which begins on Wednesday, after defending champion Swiatek withdrew for “personal reasons”.
Victorious this year at the Australian and US Opens, Aryna Sabalenka could make a leap in the rankings and catch up with the Pole if she wins in Beijing, an ambition she makes no secret of.
“Of course it’s one of my goals to finish the season as world number one,” confirmed the Belarusian, who had already won the Major in Melbourne last year.
The 26-year-old doesn’t want to “focus on that,” however. “I just want to play my best tennis on the court,” she said, with “only three tournaments left” this season.
Aryna Sabalenka became world number 1 in September 2023, before being dethroned by Iga Swiatek.
“Being called the best player in the world means a lot. It’s nice to know that you’re doing things right, that all those hours of training aren’t a waste of time,” she said.
Sabalenka has been back in competition since her victory in the final in New York at the beginning of September against the American Jessica Pegula. The world number 3 is also present at the Beijing tournament, like her compatriot Coco Gauff (6e world) or the Chinese Zheng Qinwen, No. 7 in the WTA rankings and Olympic champion in Paris this summer.