Aryna Sabalenka believes there was a silver lining to a recent setback that forced her to miss Wimbledon.
The two-time Australian Open champion will return to the Tour this week for the first time in a month after being sidelined from action due to a shoulder problem. Before suffering her injury, Sabalenka had enjoyed a positive clay swing where she reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome. However, at the French Open, she suffered a shock quarter-final loss to Mirra Adreeva during a match where she was also hindered by physical issues unrelated to her shoulder.
Missing a major event is never easy for a player but in Sabalenka’s case, it enabled her to take a longer break from the sport and recharge her batteries ahead of the Citi Open in Washington. An event she is playing for the first time since 2017.
“I think it was very important for me to take a little break. I had really tough, tough struggles starting from March. It didn’t stop.” Sabalenka told reporters in Washington.
“I feel more fresh and more ready to go.”
It could be argued that the world No.3 is more prepared for the North American hardcourt swing compared to her peers who are currently playing on clay at the Paris Olympics. The US Open will get underway at the end of August which doesn’t give a lot of time for those in Paris to get ready.
However, Sabalenka plays down the significance of her decision to not play in Paris.
“I definitely feel like being in Paris right now, it’s a lot of responsibility and it’s a lot of pressure,” She said.
“It’s still way to go to the US Open. I feel like they (those playing in Paris) are going to be ready. Probably they’ll just, I don’t know, take a break.
“That’s why they’re on top of the rankings because they were able to switch off and be ready for the important tournaments.”
Sabalenka will be hoping to replicate her success in America from last season when she reached the semi-finals of Cincinnati and was then runner-up to Coco Gauff in Flushing Meadows. She has no specific goal with the emphasis being on improving herself.
“The goal is just to become a better player. After each tough loss, learn something and improve it.” She concluded.
Sabalenka is the top seed at the Citi Open. Granted a bye in the first round, her opening match will be against either Kamilla Rakhimova or Katie Volynets.
