Sabalenka after her Cincinnati title: “I play great tennis when I’m calm”

In Cincinnati, Aryna Sabalenka repositioned herself in the race for the US Open title. The Belarusian won her sixth WTA 1000 title, not dropping a single set all week and dispatching world No 1 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals (6-3, 6-3). In the final, she beat Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 to claim the 15h title of her career.

Sabalenka has been disappointing since the end of the French Open, where she lost to Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals, albeit in less-than-prime physical form, but now seems to be back in business. In fact, she is back in second place in the world rankings, a position briefly held by Coco Gauff, who was eliminated as defending champion in her opening match against Yulia Putintseva.

At the press conference, the Belarusian was delighted with her second title in 2024, her first since the Australian Open earlier this year.

“I’m super-happy to get this title,” said Sabalenka.

“I’ve been trying so many times here in Cincinnati. I’m really playing great tennis, probably not the best tennis I can play, but I’m definitely getting there. With every match I played, I felt better and better and better. Hopefully, at the US Open, I can keep building that level.”

Sabalenka: I was emotional coming back after injury

Not always imperious when it comes to channelling her energy on the tennis court, Sabalenka showed just the opposite this week. At the age of 26, the two-time Grand Slam winner is more often able to take a break – and give herself a break.

“I was really emotional in Washington and Toronto coming back after injury,” she added. “I was overreacting, and I just stepped back and realised that I played my great tennis when I was calm and confident, that no matter what’s what’s going on the court, I’ll be able to keep fighting and keep trying my best no matter what the score, what the situation is.

“And I just realised that I have to be that way. There is no other way for me if I want to do well here and New York.

“I was kind of like, I’m gonna be calm from the beginning to the end of the match. Even if I lose the match easily, I have to stay calm. I have to practise that. And I have to have this belief that I’ll be able to turn around that match no matter what the situation is.”

A finalist at last year’s US Open, Sabalenka will be looking to go one better if she is to claim her third Grand Slam title, her first outside Australia.

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