Aryna Sabalenka aims for Grand Slam glory in 2022: “I’m starting to understand that I can do it”

Aryna Sabalenka starts her 2022 season at the WTA 500 event in Adelaide. The Belarusian has only one thing on her mind – a Grand Slam title

November 15, 2021, GUADALAJARA, MEXICO: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action during the third round robin match at the 2021 Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara WTA tennis tournament against Maria Sakkari of Greece (Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire) || 212823_0002 2021 finals Guadalajara MEXICO PRESS sport tennis WTA zagency zlast24 zselect ZSPORT ZTENNIS Zuma ZUMAPRESS.com zwire

Haresh Ramchandani

January 3, 2022

Jérémy Baudu

The WTA Finals in Guadalaraja ended just a month and a half ago but the WTA Tour has already kicked off the new season in 2022 with world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka choosing to return to competition at the WTA 500 Adelaide International, which begins on Monday.

After a great 2021 season where the Belarusian won two titles – Abu Dhabi and Madrid – and played her first two Grand Slam semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, Sabalenka is aiming higher in 2022.

The Minsk native has ambitions to win a Major and believes that the two semi-final losses in London and New York will serve her well. “I think those two matches that I lost in the semi-finals were a small step towards making this dream come true. I was really nervous during these times. I think now I’m starting to understand that I can do this. Ok, in the semi-finals, I don’t have to think too much or rush, panic. Now I think next time I won’t be nervous in the Grand Slam semi-finals anymore. ”

Focus on physical work in the pre-season

After her failure to qualify for the semi-finals at the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka took 10 days of vacation before going back to work. The world No 2 was eager to get back on track to be 100% ready for the start of the 2022 season. The Belarusian has focused the pre-season on intense physical work.

“I don’t know how long my preseason was, but the time went by so fast, a snap of a finger and we are already here,” she said. “Yes, the weeks have been difficult. I feel like I have improved and ready to play. I focused on my body, to make sure everything was connected well, with good balance, to hit the ball a little earlier as well. This is what we focused on. Yes, like last year, but we also added a few things. ”

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Sabalenka also explained that she had time to look back on her 2021 season by analyzing, in particular, her defeats and the world No 2 became aware of her mistakes so as not to repeat them this year. “I would say all the games I lost, I think it’s just because of me. I just have to focus on myself, try to make less unforced errors. Usually I win the first set and then I start making mistakes. When my opponent has the feeling that the game is going to their advantage, it’s hard. I just have to try to be consistent from start to finish and not give too much.”