Aryna Sabalenka has said that being focused has been the key to her successful run at the WTA Finals.
Sabalenka qualified for the semi-finals at the WTA Finals with a 6-3 7-5 win over Jessica Pegula, who finished the group stage 0-3.
The Belarusian broke on six occasions as she claimed a place in the last four after Maria Sakkari’s victory over Ons Jabeur.
Speaking after the match Sabalenka claimed that being focused was the key to reaching the last four in Texas, “I keep saying to myself, ‘Just stay focused, keep fighting — it doesn’t matter, two or three sets, just get the win, the extra points,” Sabalenka told the WTA website.
“At the end was a little pressure because you try to not think about this, but this thing stays in your mind. I’m happy that I was able to finish it in two sets. In the beginning, I said to my team that I’d prefer the second match to 100 percent know what I have to do to get through.”
The results mean Sabalenka advances to the last four where she will play world number one Iga Swiatek on Sunday.
In the other semi-final Maria Sakkari will play either Daria Kasatkina or Caroline Garcia who face each other in a winners take all clash on Saturday.
After her 6-2 6-3 victory over Ons Jabeur, Sakkari said that she has to keep doing what she is doing in the semi-finals and that she is happy that her game is clicking together, “I think I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Sakkari told the WTA website.
“I’m trusting myself. I’m just fearless on the court. I’m enjoying myself here. There’s no secret behind how I’m playing, it was about time to start playing good again. I’m just very happy that it’s actually happening here.”
