Sabalenka: How she learned to stop worrying about rankings and produce her best

The Belarusian says she now just lets the points take care of themselves

Zuma / Panoramic

May 8, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka has already tasted what it’s like to be ranked world No 1, a mark she reached in September 2023.

It was the culmination of a lifelong dream, but one that for a long time was almost a hindrance rather than a goal. Trying to pick up points week in week out adds pressure and for some players, that pressure can be too much.

But like most things in her career, Sabalenka has been through a learning process and when it comes to rankings, she knows now that the numbers will take care of themselves, if she is playing well in the biggest events.

“Everything comes with experience,” she told reporters in Rome on Wednesday. “I remember was it 2018 when I just break through and I get to the top 10 at the end of the year….the next year, the whole year I was thinking about defending the points in the end of the year. I was struggling a lot. I didn’t play my best. I was getting frustrated a lot because I was already thinking about the future and stuff.

“After that year, I learned that it’s actually really doesn’t matter. Actually that year I defended all those points, I stayed on the same level. I realised that it actually doesn’t matter. We have 25 weeks.

“Basically if you do well in six, seven tournaments, you’re in the top 10. You don’t have to worry in the first tournaments that you have to defend points in the last one. You still have the whole year to do well, be there, fight your way to the top.”

A-Roma Sabalenka ☕

🐯 Join us behind the scenes for @SabalenkaA's first practice back in Rome#IBI24 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/DHL1RNW5vg
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 7, 2024

Sabalenka’s consistency – as well as her power – is what has taken her to two Grand Slam titles and to competing for the world No 1 ranking. Now far more confident in herself, she expects herself to be around at the business end of every event.

“Now I get to the point where I’m like not really focusing on the points,” she said. “I know if I’ll be physically, mentally ready to play, I will play well and I will get to the last stages the tournament. I’m trying to focus on myself so I’m healthy, mentally and physically, and I’m ready to play my best.”

no hangover after Madrid near miss

Sabalenka narrowly missed out on winning the title in Madrid last weekend, missing three match points as she was edged out by world No 1 Iga Swiatek in a brilliant final.

But the Belarusian said she was going into Rome confident and not kicking herself at missing out on another big title.

“There is lots of positives from Madrid,” she said. “I fought back, I found my game. I bring everything back together and start playing on high level. I fought couple of really tough battles against top players there and I got some wins. Was close to get another title. But yeah, it is how it is.

“I’m still happy with those couple of weeks. Yeah, I would take (them) as good weeks than bad.”